Financial Services Mba

MBA-Finance Management of Financial Services
UNIT - I
Learning Objectives:
After reading this chapter you will be conversant with:
Meaning  and Definitions of Financial services
Kinds
 of Financial services
Evolution
 and growth of these services
Nature
 and characteristics of financial services
Goods  marketing v/s service marketing
Strategic financial services
Services  Marketing triangle
The Financial services sector in India is blooming and has
become one of the
lucrative areas to professionalism. The sector has undergone
metamorphosis
since 1990. Indian economy got liberalized during 1991 and
the financial sector
was kept open for private and foreign players. During the
late eighties, the
financial services industry in India was dominated by
commercial banks and
other financial institutions governed by the Central
Government. The economic
liberalization has brought in a complete transformation in
the Indian financial
services industry.
Prior to the economic liberalization, the Indian financial
service sector was
characterized by various other factors, which was related to
the growth of this
sector. Some of the factors of significance are as follows:
Too much of control and regulation by the apex bodies in
the
form of interest rates, money rates etc.
Controller of capital issues used to regulate the prices of
securities
Absence
 off independent credit rating and credit research
agencies.
Strict regulation of the foreign exchange market
Restrictions
 on foreign investment and foreign equity
Non-availability of debt instruments on a large scale.
However, after the economic liberalization the entire
financial sector has under
gone a sea-saw change and now new financial instruments
are entering the
capital market on a daily basis. The present scenario in the
Indian Capital
market is characterized by financial innovation and financial
creativity.
Financial services basically mean all those kinds of services
provided in
financial or monetary terms, where the essential commodity
is money. These
services include; Leasing, Hire purchase, venture capital,
Merchant banking,
Insurance, housing finance, Mutual funds, factoring, stock
broking and many
others.
MEANING OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
The term Financial services in its broader sense refers to “

mobilizing and
allocation of savings’’. It is identified as all those activities
involved in the
process of converting savings into investment. Financial
services also include
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES such as Merchant Bankers,
Venture
capitalists, Commercial banks, Insurance Companies etc.
CLASSIFICATAION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

INDUSTRY
The financial services industry can be conventionally
classified into two
categories:
i) Capital market intermediaries, consisting of term lending
institutions and investing institutions providing long-term
funds.
ii) Money market intermediaries, include commercial banks,
cooperative
banks and other agencies, which supply funds for shortterm
requirements. Therefore, the term financial services include
all kinds of organizations, which intermediate and facilitate
financial transactions of both individuals and corporate
customers.
The entities that provide these services are divided into the
following categories:
Non-Banking
 Finance companies (NBFCS)
Commercial
 banks and
Investment
 bank
EVOLUTION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES IN INDIA:
Financial services sector is blooming in India and it has

passed through various
phases as mentioned below:
i) Initial phase (1960-80)

ii) Second phase (1980-90)
iii) Third phase (1990-2002)
i) Initial phase:
Financial services at the initial phase introduced many
innovative
services such as merchant banking, Insurance and leasing
finance.
The term merchant banking was not known till 1960. It was
used as
an umbrella function. Its activities start from project
appraisal to
mobilization of finance from suppliers. They also underwrote
the
public issues and helped in getting the shares listed in the
stock
exchange. LIC, GIC and UTI initiated to enter into this
segment
during this period. Leasing activities was started in the year
1970.
Initially leasing companies were engaged in equipment lease
financing. Afterwards they have undertaken different kinds
of leasing
such as financial lease, operating lease and wet leasing.
ii) Second phase:

Financial services entered the second stage and it covered
the period
of 10 years approximately. In this phase it introduced many
innovative value added services such as over the counter
share
transfers, pledging of shares, mutual funds, factoring,
discounting,
venture capital and credit rating. Mutual funds provide major
fund to
the industry anywhere in the developed countries. Credit
rating
reduces malpractices in the capital market and this rating is
applied
only to debt instruments only. Now this rating is mandatory
for
commercial papers and fixed deposits.
iii) Third phase:

This phase in financial services include the setting up of new
institutions and instruments. This period started after post
liberalization. The depositories, the stock lending schemes,
online
trading, paperless trading, dematerialization, book buildings
are the
contemporary issues of this phase. This phase has initiated
to
popularize book building to help both investors and fund
mobilizes.
In this phase government has taken initiatives to allow
foreign
institutional investors into the capital market. The
government of
India is revamping companies’ act, income tax act, MRTP act
etc, for
delivering effective financial services.
PRESENT SCENARIO:
i) Conservatism to dynamism:
At present, the financial system in India is in a process of
rapid transformation, after the liberalization of financial
sector. The main objective of the financial sector reforms is
to
promote an efficient, competitive and diversified financial
system in the country. Now the Indian financial services
sector is very dynamic and it is adopting itself to the
changing
needs.
ii) Emergence of Primary Equity Market:

Primary market in India is now very active. India is now
witnessing the emergence of many private sector financial
services. Capital market is one of the major places to raise
finance. The aggregate funds raised in the Indian capital
market have doubled over a decade.
iii) Concept of Credit Rating:

The facility of credit rating helps the investors in finding a
profitable and safe debt capital. It rates the debt issues and
instructs the investors not to invest in the debt capital of the
firms that are badly rated. The regulators of the Indian
capital
market are contemplating on introducing Equity grading,
which helps the investors to prudently invest their savings.
iv) Process of Globalization:

Globalization has given way for the entry of innovative and
sophisticated financial products into our country.
Government
of India is very keen in removing all the obstacles in the
financial sector. Indian capital market has high potential for
the introduction of innovative financial products.
v) Process of liberalization:
Government of India has initiated many steps to reform the
financial services industry. The interest rates have been
deregulated. The private sector has been permitted to
participate in banking and mutual fund sectors. The Finance
Act of Government of India is bringing various amendments
every year to keep the financial sector very flexible.
FUNCTIONS OF FINANCIAL SERVICE INSTITUTIONS:
A) These firms not only help to raise the required funds but
also assure the
efficient deployment of funds.
B) They assist in deciding the financing mix
C) They extend their service up to the stage of servicing of

lenders.
D) They provide services like bill discounting, factoring of

debtors, parking of
short-term funds in the money market, e-commerce,
securitization of
debts, and so on to ensure an efficient management of
funds.
E) These firms provide some specialized services like credit

rating, venture
capital, lease financing, factoring, mutual funds, merchant
banking, stock
lending, depository, credit cards, housing finance, and so on.
These
services are generally provided by banking companies,
insurance
companies, stock exchanges and non-banking companies.
CONSTITUENTS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES:

The financial services comprise of the following major
constituents in the
financial system. They are:
a) Financial instruments
b) Market players
c) Specialized Institutions
d) Regulatory bodies
a) Financial Instruments:
It includes equity, debt and hybrid. These instruments are

written evidences of
ownership and they give the holders the right to demand
and receive property
not in their possession.
The ownership of a corporation is divided into various units
and each unit is
called as a share. A shareholders interest is evidenced by a
stock certificate,
which states the name of the shareholder, the class of stock
and the number of
shares owned.
Debenture is a certificate issued by the company under its
common seal
acknowledging the debt to be repayable with interest.
Hybrid instrument is the combination of both equity and debt
instruments.
b) Market players:
The players in the market include:
i. Commercial banks
ii. Financing companies
iii. Stock brokers
iv. Consultants
v. Underwriters
vi. Market makers
i. Commercial Banks:
The commercial banking in the developed countries provide
term loans to
corporate sector by participating in the capital and
equipment finance. The
commercial banking has undergone a number of structural
and functional
changes in the developing countries. The Indian banks have
recently
commenced hire purchasing finance, leasing, factoring and
other services.
ii. Financing companies:

The participation of finance organizations can stimulate the
economic growth.
They inject new blood to the corporate sector. All these
reflections made for the
evolution of a vibrant, competitive and dynamic financial
system, the Non-
Banking Finance Corporations sector has recorded marked
growth in the recent
past.
iii. Stock Brokers:

Stock Brokers play an important role in the stock market.
They involve in
buying and selling of securities in a recognized stock
exchange. If any one wants
to work as a broker, a certificate of registration from the
SEBI is mandatory
after satisfying all the terms and conditions. SEBI will grant
the registration to
the brokers. The membership in the stock exchange can be
granted as individual
membership and corporate membership.
iv. Consultants:
Consultants are the professionals in the area of Finance can
be providing best
solutions to the problems faced by the corporate sector.
They are pioneer in their
field and render the quality service with high integrity and
standards. A
financial consultant occupy a key role in problem solving
solution like in all
areas of functional management such as production, finance,
marketing and
human resources. Their services are intangible and show
greater impact on the
functioning of the company. They provide tailor made
solution to all the
problems irrespective of any area.
v. Underwriters:
Underwriters are the intermediaries in the primary market.
They provide
assurance to the companies, which approach the capital
market for raising the
financial resources. They render valuable services to the
newly started
companies, which require believable advice. Underwriters
assure the company
full subscriptions for a commission.
vi. Market makers:

Market makers are associated with the stock exchanges. The
market making
system is very much popular in London, New York and
Chicago stock
exchanges. Their basic function is to provide the needed
liquidity to a particular
scrip. They help in eliminating the temporary disparity
between the supply and
demand of scrip. They help in maintaining a fair and orderly
market.
c) Specialized Institutions:
Financial services area meant for providing solution to
various problems faced
by the corporate sector. The provider of financial services
remains in constant
touch with the dynamic market. The financial markets are
required to develop
specialized institutions to solve the financial problems of the
corporate sector.
These specialized institutions include acceptance houses,
Discount houses,
Factors, Depositories, Credit rating agencies, Venture
capital. These institutions
provide solutions to the financial problems of the corporate
sector.
d) Regulatory Bodies:
Regulations are the most important factor in any area of
financial system. The
Financial markets are highly volatile and need a close
observation by the
Government. The government of India watches the market
affairs on daily basis
through its nominee SEBI. The government regulates the
financial system
through various legal organs of the administration. The
banking affairs are
monitored by the RBI. The corporate affairs are regulated by
the company law
board and board for industrial and financial reconstruction.
CLASSIFICATION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

INDUSTRY:
The financial intermediaries in India can be traditionally
classified into two
parts:
i) Capital market intermediaries and
ii) Money market intermediaries.
The capital market intermediaries consist of term lending
institutions and
investing institutions, which mainly provide long-term funds.
On the other hand, money market consists of commercial
banks, co-operative
banks and other agencies, which supply short-term funds.
Hence the term
financial services industries include all kinds of
organizations, which
intermediate and facilitate financial transactions of both
individual and corporate
customers.
KINDS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES:

LEASING:

The term leasing refers to a contract under which the owner

of an asset
allows another person or party to use the asset in return for
some rent.
The persons involved are lessor and lessee. Lessor is the
owner of the
asset and the lessee is the person getting the benefit of
asset taken on
lease.
Steps involved in Leasing:

A contract of lease provides a person an opportunity to use
an asset,
which belongs to another person. The following steps are
involved in a
leasing transaction:
a) At the first instance the lessee has to take a decision

regarding the
required asset. Then he has to select a supplier before
selecting
the type of machine.
b) The lessee then enters into a lease agreement with lessor.

The
lease agreement contains the terms and conditions of the
lease
such as, lease period, rental payments, details regarding
renewal
of lease period, cost of repair and maintenance, insurance
and any
other expenses.
c) After the lease agreement is signed the lessor consents

the
manufacturer and requests him to supply the asset to
lessee.
Types of leasing:
Financial
 lease: It is also known as Capital lease or Long-
term
lease. It is like a legal commitment to pay for the entire cost
of
the equipment plus interest over a specified period of time.
The
lessee agrees to a series of payment which in total exceeds
the
cost of equipment.
Operating
 lease: It is a rental agreement. The lessee is
not
committed for paying more than the original cost of
equipment
during contractual period. Lessor will bear the maintenance
expenses and taxes of the lessor.
Sale
 and lease back: Under this type of lease, a firm,
which has
an asset, sells it to the leasing company and gets it back on
lease.
The asset is generally sold at its market value. The firms
receive
the sale price in cash and get the right to use the asset
during the
lease period. The firm makes periodical rental payment to
the
lessor. The ownership of asset rests with lessor.
Cross
 border lease: This is also known as international
leasing
or transnational leasing. This is referred to a lease
transaction
between the persons of two countries. The lessor and the
lessee
belong to two different countries.
MERCHANT BANKING:
Merchant banks are financial institutions providing specialist
services that
generally include the acceptance of bills of exchange,
corporate finance,
portfolio management and other banking services.
Services of merchant banks:

A merchant banker helps in the process of issue
management and his services
are broadly categorized as pre-issue management and post
issue management.
The pre-issue management involves the following:

Printing
 prospectus
Pricing
 of issues
Marketing
 the issue
Underwriting

Listing  of securities in stock exchange
Post issue management includes the following:

Collection
 of application forms
Screening
 the applications
Deciding
 allotment procedure
Mailing
 of letter of allotment
Issue  of share certificates
Refund  of application money to non-allotters.
A merchant banker acts as a liasoning officer at the event of

mergers and
acquisitions. He helps the company in managing its portfolio.
A merchant banker help their clients in off shore financing
such as long term
foreign currency loans, joint ventures abroad, licensing and
franchising,
financing exports and imports, foreign collaboration
arrangements etc.
The services of Merchant bankers also include investment

advisory to Non-
Resident Indians in terms of identification of investment
opportunities, selection
of securities, investment management etc. They also take
care of the operational
details like purchase and sale of securities, securing
necessary clearance from
RBI.
MUTUAL
 FUND:
A mutual fund is a corporation, trust or partnership that
combines the
assets of all its shareholders or partners into one common
investment
account for the purpose of providing diversification and
professional
management. ‘A mutual fund means pooling the
investments of a
number of investors by way of investment in units of equal
size’. The
concept of Mutual funds was started with unit schemes of
Unit Trust of
India in 1964 in India. The term mutual funds came into
prominence
only in 1987 when leading public sector banks like SBI,
Canara bank set
up their mutual funds, followed by LIC of India in 1989. From
the year
1993 the mutual funds were allowed to start under private
sector also. At
present in India there are 40 mutual fund companies in India.
ORGANISATION OF MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES IN

INDIA:
The organization of mutual funds involves five constituents

or special bodies.
They are:
a) The sponsor/s
b) The board or trustees
c) The asset management company (AMC)
d) The custodian and
e) The unit holders.
A mutual fund is set up in the form of a trust, which has
sponsor, trustees, Asset
Management Company and custodian. The trust is
established by a sponsor or
more than one sponsor who is like a promoter of a company.
The trustees of the
mutual fund hold its property for the benefit of the unit
holders. AMC approved
by SEBI manages the fund by making investments in various
types of securities.
Custodian who is registered with SEBI holds the securities of
various schemes
of the fund in its custody. The trustees are vested with the
general power of
superintendence and direction over AMC. They monitor the
performance and
compliance of SEBI regulations by the mutual fund.
CLASSIFICATION OF MUTUAL FUNDS:
A Mutual fund scheme can be classified into open-ended or

closed ended schemes depending on its maturity period.
An open-ended scheme is one that is available for
subscription
and repurchase on a continuous basis. These schemes do
not
have a fixed maturity period.
A  closed ended scheme has a stipulated maturity period
e.g. 5-7
years. The fund is open for subscription only during a
specified
period at the time of launch of the scheme. Investors can
invest
in the scheme at the time of initial public issue and
thereafter
they can buy or sell the units of the scheme on the stock
exchanges where the units are listed.
The
 schemes can also be classified as Growth funds,
income
funds and balanced funds.
Growth
 funds:
The growth funds aim to provide capital appreciation over
the
medium to long term. Such schemes normally invest a major
part
of their corpus in equities. Such funds have comparatively
high
risks. These schemes provide different options to the
investors
like dividend; capital appreciation etc. and the investors can
choose an option depending on their preferences.
Income
 funds:
These funds aim to provide regular and steady income to
investors. Such schemes generally invest in fixed income
securities such as bonds, corporate debentures, government
securities and money market instruments. These funds are
not
affected by the market fluctuations.
Balanced
 funds:
These funds provide both growth and regular income as such
schemes invest both in equities and fixed income securities.
These are appropriate for investors looking for moderate
growth.
They generally invest 40-60% in equity and debt
instruments.
These funds are also affected by fluctuations in share prices
in
the stock market.
The
 other schemes are as follows: Money market
mutual funds,
Indexed funds, Sector schemes, Tax saving schemes,
load funds,
no load funds etc.
Money
 market mutual funds:
These are income funds and their aim is to provide easy
liquidity,
preservation of capital and moderate income. These
schemes
invest exclusively in safer short term instruments such as
treasury
bills, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and inter bank
call
money, government securities etc.
Indexed
 funds:
These funds invest exclusively in the government securities.
Government securities have no default risk. Net asset values
of
these schemes also fluctuate due to change in interest rates
and
other economic factors as in the case of income or debt
oriented
schemes.
Sector
 schemes:
These are the funds, which invest in the securities of only
those
sectors or industries as specified in the offer documents. Eg.
Soft
ware industries, pharmaceuticals, FMCGS etc. The returns in
these funds are dependent on the performance of the
respective
sector. While these funds may give higher returns, they are
more
risky as compared to diversified funds. Investors need to
keep a
watch on the performance of these sectors and must exit at
an
appropriate time besides seeking expert advice.
Tax
 saving schemes:
These schemes offer tax rebates to the investors under
specific
provisions of the income tax act of 1961, as the government
offers tax incentives for investment in specified avenues. EG.
Equity linked saving schemes, pension schemes etc.
Load
 fund:
A load fund is one that charges a percentage of Net asset
value
for entry or exit. Each time one buys or sells units in the
fund, a
charge will be payable. This charge is used by the mutual
fund
for marketing and distributing expenses.
No-load
 fund:
This fund is one that does not charge for entry or exit. It
means
the investors can enter the fund at Net asset value and no
additional charges are payable on purchase or sale of units.
The
price a unit holder is charged while investing in an open-
ended
scheme is called sales price.
FUNCTIONS OF MUTUAL FUNDS:

The
 basic function of mutual fund companies is buying and
selling
securities on behalf of its unit holders,
 enables small investors to hold a share in a large and

It
diversified
portfolio of assets, which reduces the risks of investment.
The
 savings so mobilized are pooled in a large, diversified
and
sound portfolio of equity, bonds, securities etc.
Investors
 in the mutual funds are given the share in its
total funds,
which is evidenced by the unit certificates.
Mutual
 funds assure professional management, which
helps in
earning higher rate of return.
 helps the small investors who do not have adequate time

It
and
knowledge, expertise, experience and resources for directly
accessing profitable avenues in capital and money markets.
NET ASSET VALUE:
The repurchase price is always linked to the Net Asset Value.
The NAV is
nothing but the market price of each unit of particular
scheme in relation to all
assets of the scheme. It can also be called as intrinsic value
of each unit. This
value is a true indicator of the performance of the fund. If
the NAV is more than
the face value of the unit, it clearly indicates that the money
invested on that unit
has appreciated and the fund has performed better.
CREDIT RATING:
Credit rating is an assessment, by an independent agency of
the capacity
of an issuer of debt security to service the debt and repay
the principal as
per the terms of issue of debt. A rating agency collects the
qualitative as
well as the quantitative data from a company, which has to
be rated, and
assesses the relative strengths and capability of company to
honour its
obligations contained in the debt instrument throughout the
duration of
the debt instrument. The rating given is based on an
objective judgment
of a team of experts from the rating agency involved in
credit rating.
OBJECTIVES OF CREDIT RATING:
 imposes a financial discipline on the borrowers

It
 helps the financial intermediary in discharging the

It
functions
relating to the debt issues.
 guides the investor regarding the commitment towards a

It
particular debt instrument for better returns.
 facilitates the formulation of the public guidelines on the

It
institutional investment.
 may provide adequate funds for the high rated

It
companies at a
low rate of interest.
 lends greater credibility to the financial and other

It
representatives.
 encourages transparency of information and better

It
accounting
standards.
CREDIT RATING PROCESS:

A) The issuing company approaches the rating agencies.
B) On the basis of client needs, rating agency appoints a

team of
experts to appraise the financial position of the company.
C) The experts team makes report to the agency appoints a

team of
experts to appraise the financial positions.
D) Credit rating agency submits, its observations about the

quality of
debt instrument through symbols.
CREDIT RATING AGENCIES IN INDIA:
i) Credit Rating and Information services of India (CRISIL)
ii) Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India

Limited
(ICRA)
iii) Credit Analysis and Research Limited (CARE)
iv) Onida Individual Credit Rating Agency of India Limited.

(ONICRA)
CRISIL
CRISIL was established in January 1988. It was floated by
ICICI, UTI, LIC,
GIC and Asian development bank. Its objective is to
undertake the assignments
of the credit rating based on the proposal made by the issuer
companies for their
financial products. They are debentures, fixed deposit
programmes, commercial
papers, short term borrowing instruments and preference
shares. CRISIL rating
is necessary for the authorities and banks. The CRISIL
provides not only the
credit rating but also renders services to the corporate
sector covering the topics
like structure of the industry, degree of competition and
business situations.
ICRA
ICRA was promoted by the Industrial Corporation of India. It
has come into
existence in August 1991. It has headquarters at Delhi. It
was an independent
company limited by shares with an authorized share capital
of Rs.10crores. The
main objective is to assess the credit instruments and assign
a grade constant to
the risk associated with such instrument. The rating is based
on an objective
analysis of the information provided by the client company.
It helps the
investors in making well-informed investing decisions. It
assists the issuer
company in raising funds from wider investors.
CARE
CARE is the third credit rating agency in India. These ratings
are accepted by
the SEBI, the RBI and the Government of India. The IDBI and
other institutions
promote it. The regulatory authorities have made rating a
necessary grading for
entering into the market. It is incorporated as a public
limited company under
the Indian companies Act. CARE is run by Board of Directors.
It consists of
eminent persons with a varied experience in financial
services and allied areas.
The company is an autonomous body and enjoys full
freedom in its operations
and ratings are also accepted by the market.
VENTURE CAPITAL:
It is a form of financing, designed for funding high
technology, high risk and
perceived high reward projects. A venture capitalist provides
funds to
entrepreneurs and enterprises pursuing in the new and
unexplored avenues.
Venture capitalist helps the promoter to actualize the project
and attain
commercialization.
Features of venture capital:
i. Venture capital is usually will be in the form of equity

participation.
ii. The investment is made only in high tech projects

having high
growth potential.
iii. Venture capitalist joins the firm as a co-partner and
shares the
risk and reward of the enterprise.
iv. Once the started venture reaches the full potential and
starts
earning profit, the venture capitalist will withdraw his
investments.
v. This type of investment is generally made in small and

medium
scale business houses.
vi. Venture capital is available only for commercialization of

new
ideas and it is not available for the firms engaged in trading,
financial services, research and development etc.,
FACTORING:
It may be defined as a continuing arrangement between
the financial institutions or banks and a business concern
selling goods
or providing services on credit, wherein the factor
undertakes the task of
recording, collecting, controlling and protecting the book
debts and also
purchasing the bills receivables of the suppliers.
Factoring involves the following functions:
a) Purchase and collection of debts

b) Management of sales ledger
c) Credit investigation
d) Provision of finance against debt
e) Rendering consultancy services
LOAN SYNDICATION:
This is also referred as consortium financing. This work is
taken up by the
Merchant banker and he arranges loans to the customers by
accumulating money
from various sources. If a single bank cannot provide a huge
sum of loan, a
number of banks join together and form a syndicate. It
enables the members of
the syndicate to share the credit risk associated with a
particular loan among
themselves.
SCOPE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES:

Financial services cover a wide range of activities. They can
be broadly
categorized into two parts namely:
(a) Traditional activities
(b) Modern activities
TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Conventionally the financial services are identified under two
heads:
(i) Fund based activities and
(ii) Non-fund based activities
The traditional services which come under fund based

activities are the
following:
Underwriting
 of shares, debentures etc
Dealing
 in foreign exchange market activities
Equipment
 leasing, hire purchase, venture capital etc.
Dealing in secondary market activities
Participating
 in money market instruments like treasury
bills,
discounting bills, commercial papers etc.
Non-fund based activities include:

The
 management of capital issues (pre and post issue
management)
Arrangement
 for the placement of capital and debt
instruments with
investment institutions
Arrangement
 of funds from financial institutions
Placement
 of capital and debt instruments with investment
institutions
Arrangement
 of working capital for his clients
Assisting  in the process of obtaining government Clarence.
MODERN ACTIVITIES:
It includes
Rendering
 project advisory services, right from the
preparation of
the project report till the raising of funds for starting the
project
Planning
 for mergers and acquisitions and assisting for
their
smooth carry out.
Directing
 corporate customers in capital restructuring
Acting  as trustees to the debenture holders
Recommending
 suitable changes in the management
structure
and management style envisaging to achieve better results.
Portfolio  management of large public sector undertakings
Capital  market services such as, Clearing services,
Registration
and transfers, collection of income on securities etc,
NATURE AND CHARACTERSTICS OF FINANCIAL

SERVICES:
Financial
 services involve at least two people or firms, the
service
provider and the user.
Financial
 institutions intermediate the flow of funds
between
different economic decision-making units.
The
 financial services are intangible. It smoothens the
functioning
of the corporate sector by providing funds within the
stipulated
period of time.
Financial
 services must be customer friendly and they
should
provide the services according to the requirements of the
customers.
Financial
 service is an innovative activity and requires
dynamism.
It has to be consistently redefined and refined on the basis of
economic changes.
FINANCIAL SERVICES MARKETING v/s GOODS

MARKETING:
(Goods and services merge, but on the conditions of
services)
Financial service is one of the important elements in Indian
financial system. It
fulfils the needs of financial institutions, intermediaries and
investors. Financial
markets bring together financial institutions, intermediaries
and investors.
The basic differences between goods and services marketing
are given below:
OWNERSHIP:
In case of goods marketing the customers get the ownership
of the goods sold.
Where as in case of services marketing the customers derive
value from services
without obtaining ownership of any tangible elements.
INVENTORY:
The goods manufactured can be inventoried and can be sold
as per the demand
requirements. Since, service is a deed or performance it
cannot be inventoried.
However, facilities, equipment and labour can be held in
readiness to create
service.
TANGIBILITY:
Goods are tangible in nature and the services are intangible.
Goods are tangible
dominant and the services are intangible dominant.
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS:
Manufacturers require physical distribution channels to move
goods from
factory to customers. Service business houses choose to
combine the service
factory, retail outlet and point of consumption at a single
location or use
electronic means to distribute their services.
TIME FACTOR:
Service marketers need to understand customers’ time
constraints and priorities;
a marketer has to minimize waiting time. A goods’ marketer
should also be
time conscious. He should try to reduce the lead-time i.e.,
the time between the
place of order and delivery.
EVALUATION:
Physical goods’ customers evaluate the products prior to
purchase in terms of
color, shape, price, fit and feel whereas service customers
emphasize on
experience properties such as taste, ease of handling,
personnel treatment, etc.
VARIABILITY IN OPERATIONAL INPUTS AND OUTPUTS:
Manufactured goods can be produced under controlled
conditions, designed to
optimize both productivity and quality. Productivity and
quality can be assured
in advance. In case of services marketing, the service is
delivered under
uncontrollable conditions. Productivity and quality cannot be
determined in
advance.
FINANCIAL INNOVATION:
Financial intermediaries have to perform the task of financial
innovation to meet
the ever-changing requirements of the economy and to help
the investors cope
with the increasingly volatile market. Because of this reason
there is a necessity
for the financial intermediaries to innovate unique financial
instruments.
The following are the major reasons for financial innovation:
Low Profitability:
Profitability refers to the ability of a financial institution to
maximize profits.
The profitability of the major financial institutions have been
declining in the
recent times. So, the institutions are compelled to seek new
products, which
fetches high returns.
Competition:
The entry foreign and private players in the financial
services sector have led to
severe competition in the industry. This has compelled the
institutions to
innovate the financial instruments.
Economic Liberalization:
Economic liberalization such as, deregulation of exchange
controls and interest
rate ceilings etc, have made the industry more innovative.
Customer service:
To cater to the needs of various customers financial
institutions must be
innovative. Customers desire for newer products at lower
cost or lower credit
risk to replace the existing ones. To meet the increased
customer sophistication
the financial intermediaries are constantly undertaking
research to invent a new
product, which suit to the requirement of investing public.
Global impact:
The changes happening in the global scenario is affecting
the financial service
sector to a larger extent. Financial intermediaries have come
out of their
traditional approach and they are ready to assume more
credit risks. As a
consequence many innovations have taken place in the
global financial sector,
which have its own impact on the domestic sector also.
Investor awareness:
There is degree of awareness amongst the investing public;
there has been a
distinct shift from investing the savings in physical assets
like gold, silver, land
etc. to financial assets like shares, debentures, mutual funds
etc. Within the
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Internal
Marketing
financial assets, they go from risk free bank deposits to risky
investments in
shares. To meet the growing awareness of the public,
innovation has become the
need of the hour.
SERVICES MARKETING TRIANGLE
The service-marketing triangle.
Source: Gronroos. C., Relationship Marketing Logic. Asia-
Australia Marketing
Journal.
In the above triangle the resources of a firm are divided into
five groups:
Personnel, Technology, Knowledge, Customer’s time and the
Customer.
PERSONNEL:
Many of the people representing the firm create value for
customers in various
service processes such as Deliveries, claims handling,
service and maintenance
etc. and some are directly engaged in sales and cross sales
activities. These
Enabling promises
Continuous
Development
Giving promises
External
Full-time marketers and salespeople
FIRM
Marketing
Sales
PERSONNEL CUSTOMERS
TECHNOLOGY
KNOWLEDGE
CUSTOMER’S TIME
CUSTOMER
Keeping promises
customer contact service employees are recognized as part
time marketers. In
many firms they outnumber the full time marketers.
TECHNOLOGY:
The knowledge that employees have and that is embedded
in technical solutions
and the firm’s way of managing the customers’ time is
identified as a resource.
TECHNOLOGY AND CUSTOMERS’ TIME:
The knowledge that employees have and that is embedded
in technical solutions
must be able to reduce the customers’ time. Technology is
identified as a vital
element in service triangle, which emphasizes on reducing
customers’ time.
KNOWLEDGE:
A firm must acquire knowledge and competences to develop
the resources
needed for implementing service process in a way that
creates value for each
customer. A governing system is needed for the integration
of various types of
resources and for the management of the service processes.
CUSTOMER:
Customer is recognized as the King and all the efforts of the
service marketer
are diverted for satisfying the customer expectations.
Promises given are
fulfilled by using various types of resources. To enable the
fulfillment of
promises, continuous resource development and continuous
development of
competences are needed.
QUESTIONS FOR REFERENCE:
1. Briefly explain the nature and scope of financial services.
2. Explain conventional and modern financial services.
3. Write a brief note on Services marketing triangle.
4. Explain the differences between Goods marketing and
Services
marketing.
5. Explain different types of financial services?
BOOKS FOR REFERENCE:
1. Indian Financial System by V. A. Avadhani
2. Service Management by Christian Gronroos
3. Indian Financial system by Vasant Desai
4. Financial Markets and Services by Gordon & Natarajan
UNIT -II
Environment
Environment refers to all external forces, which have a bearing on the
functioning of business. The environment poses threats to a firm or offers
immense opportunities for exploitation. Stressing this aspect, William F.Glweck
and Lawrance R.Jauch wrote thus: “ The environment include factor outside the
firm which can lead to opportunities for or threats to the firm. Although there
are many factors, the most important of the sectors are socio-economic,
technological, supplier competitors and government”.
Marketing Environment includes all the forces outside an organization
that directly or indirectly influence its marketing activities. There forces can
dramatically change the course of an organization. The forces include Macro
environmental forces and Micro Environmental forces.
Macro Environment:
The Macro Environment includes the broad societal forces that shape the
activities of every business and non-profit marketer. The physical environment,
socio cultural forces, demographic factors, economic factors, scientific and
technology factors, and political and legal factors are components of the Macro
environment.
FIG. 2.1 Macro Environment Forces
Macro Environment
Components influences
on the marketing program
Demographics Social cultural
forces
Science and
Technology
Physical
Environment
Political and legal
forces
Economic condition
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Physical Environment
The Physical environment consists of natural resources, such as
minerals and animal populations, and other aspects of the natural world,
such as changes in ecological systems. The availability of natural resources
may have a direct and far-reaching impact on marketing activities in a
geographic region. Areas rich in petroleum, for example, may concentrate
on the production and marketing of fuel oil, kerosene, benzene, naphtha,
paraffin, and other products derived from this natural resource. Marketing
is influenced by many other aspects of the natural environment as well.
Climate is one example. Climate also greatly influences the timing of
marketing activities. In India, more than 65 percent of all soft drinks are
sold during the blazing hot months of June through September, for
instance. Marketers adapt their strategies to such environmental
differences. Kmart, for example, identifies every item stocked in its stores
by climate. It knows that climate influences not only what is purchased but
when. Grass seed, insect sprays, snow shovels, and many other goods must
be in the right stores at the correct time of year.
Finally, consideration of the physical environment of marketing must
include an awareness of activities or substances harmful to the earth’s ecology.
Smog, acid rain, and pollution of the ocean are among the many issues in this
category. Such issues are highly interrelated with aspects of the sociocultural
environment. Green marketing is marketing ecologically safe products and
promoting activities beneficial to the physical environment.
Natural Environment
Marketers need to be aware of the threats and opportunities associated
with four trends in the natural environment: the shortage of raw materials, the
increased cost of energy, increased pollution levels, and the changing role of
governments.
Shortage of Raw Materials
The Earth’s raw materials consist of the infinite renewable, and the finite
non renewable. Infinite resources, such as air and water, pose no immediate
problem, although some groups see a long run danger. Water shortages and
pollution are already major problems in some parts of the world.
Finite renewable resources, such as forests and food, must be used
wisely. Forestry companies are required to reforest timberlands in order to
protect the soil and to ensure sufficient wood to meet future demand. Finite nonrenewable
resources-oil, coal, platinum, zinc, silver will pose a serious problem
as the point of depletion approaches. Firms making products that require these
increasingly scare minerals face substantial cost increases. They may not find it
easy to pass these cost increases on to customers.
INCREASED ENERGY COSTS
One finite non-renewable resource, oil, has created serious problems for
the world economy. Oil prices shot up from $ 2.23 a barrel in 1970 to $34.00 a
barrel in 1982, creating a frantic search for alternative energy forms. Coal
become popular again, and companies searched for practical means to harness
solar, nuclear, wind, and other forms of energy.
The development of alternative sources of energy and more efficient
ways to use energy and the weakening of the oil cartel led to a subsequent
decline in oil prices. Lower prices had an adverse effect on the oil exploration
industry but considerably improved the income of oil-using industries and
consumers. In the mean time, the search continues for alternative sources of
energy.
Increased Pollution levels
Some industrial activity will inevitably damage the natural
environment. Consider the dangerous mercury levels in the ocean, the quantity
of DDT and other chemical pollutions in the soil food supply, and the littering of
the environment with bottles, plastics, and other packaging materials.
Research has shown that about 42 percent of U.S. consumers are willing
to pay higher prices for “green” products. This willingness creates a large
market for pollution-control solutions, such as scrubbers, recycling centers, and
landfill systems. Smart companies are initiating environment – friendly moves
to show their concern.
Changing Role of Governments
Governments vary in their concern and efforts to promote a clean
environment. For example, the Germen Government is vigorous in its pursuit of
environmental quality, partly because of the strong green movement in Germany
and partly because of the ecological devastation in the former East Germany.
The major hopes are that companies around the world will accept more social
responsibility and that less expensive devices will be invented to control and
reduce pollution.
Sociocultural Forces
Every society has a culture that guides everyday life. In the environment
of marketing, the world culture refers not to classical music, art, and literature
but no social institutions, values, beliefs, and behaviours. Culture includes
everything people learn as members of a society, but does not include the basic
drives with which people are born.
Culture is shaped by humankind. It is learned rather than innate. For
example, people are born with a need to eat – but what, when, and where they
eat, and whether they season their food with ketchup or curdled goat’s milk is
learned from a particular culture.
Values and beliefs
A social value embodies the goals a society views as important and
expenses a culture’s share ideas of preferred ways of acting. Social values
reflect abstract ideas about what is good, right, and desirable (and bad, wrong,
and undesirable). For example, we learn from those around us that it is wrong to
lie or steal. The following social values reflect the beliefs of most people in the
United States.
Freedom. The freedom of the individual to act as he or she pleases is a
fundamental aspect of U.S. culture.
Achievement and success. The achievement of wealth and prestige through
honest efforts is highly valued. Such achievement leads to a higher standard of
living and improves the quality of life.
Work ethic. The importance of working on a regular basis is strongly
emphasized. Those who are idle are considered lazy.
Equality. Most Americans profess a high regard for human equality, especially
equal opportunity, and generally relate to one another as equals.
Patriotism/nationalism. Americans take pride in living in the ‘best country in
the world.” They are proud of their country’s democratic heritage and its
achievements.
Individual responsibility and self-fulfilment. Americans are oriented toward
developing themselves as individuals. They value being responsible for their
achievements. The U.S. Army’s slogan “Be all that you can be” captures the
essence of the desirability of personals growth.
A belief is a conviction concerning the existence or the characteristics of
physical and social phenomena. A person may believe, for example, that a
height-fat diet causes cancer or that chocolate causes acne. Whether a belief is
correct is not particularly important in terms of a person’s actions. Even totally
foolish beliefs may affect how people behave and what they buy.It is the
marketer’s job to “read” the social environment and reflect the surrounding
culture’s values and beliefs in a marketing strategy. Social values are changing
to play down work and to focus on family and on emotional enhancement of
personal life.Values and beliefs vary from culture to culture.
Demographies
The terms demography and demographics come from the Greek word demos,
meaning “people” (as does the word democracy). Demography may be defined
as the study of the size, composition (for example, by age or racial group), and
distribution of the human population in relation to social factors such as
geographic, boundaries. The size, composition, and distribution of the
population in any geographic market will clearly influence marketing. Because
demographic factors are of great concern to marketing managers.
The first macroenvironmental force that marketers monitor is population
because people make up markets. Marketers are keenly interested in the size
and growth rate of population in different cities, regions, and nations; age
distribution and ethnic mix; educational levels; household patterns; and regional
characteristics and movements.
Worldwide Population Growth
The World population is showing “explosive” growth.The world population
explosion has been a source of major concern, for two reasons. The first is the
fact that concern resources needed to support this much human life (fuel, foods,
and minerals) are limited and may run out at some point.
The second cause for concern is that population growth is highest in
countries and communities that can least afford it. The less developed regions
of the world currently account for 76 percent of the world population and are
growing at 2 percent per year, whereas the population in more developed
countries is growing at only 0.6 percent per year. In the developing countries,
the death rate has been falling as a result of modern medicine, but the birthrate
has remained fairly stable. Feeding, clothing and educating their children while
also providing a rising standard of living is nearly impossible in these countries.
The explosive world population growth has major implications for
business. A growing population does not mean growing markets unless these
markets have sufficient purchasing power. Nonetheless, companies that
carefully analyze their markets can find major opportunities. For example, to
curb its skyrocketing population; the Chinese government has passed regulations
limiting families to one child per family. Toy marketers, in particular, are
paying attention to one consequence of these regulations.
Population Age Mix
National populations vary in their age mix. A Population can be
subdivided into six age groups: preschool, school-age children, teens, young
adults age 25 to 40, middle-aged adults age 40 to 65, and older adults age 65 and
up. For marketers, the most populous age groups, shape the marketing
environment.
Ethnic Markets
Countries also vary in ethnic and racial makeup. At one extreme is
Japan, where almost everyone is Japanese; at the other is the United States,
where people from come virtually all nations. The United States was originally
called a “melting pot,” but there are increasing signs that the melting didn’t
occur. Now people call United States a “salad bowl” society with ethnic groups
maintaining their ethnic differences, neighbourhoods, and cultures. The U.S.
population (267 million in 1997) is 73 percent white. African Americans
constitute another 13 percent, and Latinos another 10 percent. The Latino
population has been growing fast, with the largest subgroups of Mexican (5.4
percent), Puerto Rican (1.1 percent) and Cuban (0.4 percent) descent. Asian
Americans constitute 3.4 percent of the U.S. population, with the Chinese
constituting the largest group, followed by the Filipinos, Japanese, Asian
Indians, and Koreans, in that order. Moreover, there are nearly 25 million
people living in the United States – more than 9 percent of the population--- who
were born in another country.
Each group has certain specific wants and buying habits. Several food,
clothing, and furniture companies have directed their products and promotions
to one or more of these groups.
Educational Groups
The population in any society falls into five educational groups;
illiterates, high school dropouts, high school degrees, college degrees, and
professional degrees. In Japan, 99 percent of the population is literate, whereas
in the United States 10 percent to 15 percent of the population may be
functionally illiterate. However, the United States has one of the world’s
highest- percentages of college-educated citizenry, around 36 percent. The high
number of educated people in the United States spells a high demand for quality
books, magazines, and travel.
Household Patterns
The “traditional household” consists of a husband, wife and children
(and sometimes grandparents). Yet, in the United States today, one out of eight
households are “diverse” or “non-traditional” and include single live-alones,
adult live-togethers of one or both sexes, single-parent families, childless
married couples, and empty nesters. More people are divorcing or separating,
choosing not to marry, marrying later, or marrying without the intention to have
children. Each group has a distinctive set of needs and buying habits.
The gay market, in particular, is a lucrative one. Insurance companies
and financial services companies are now waking up to the needs and potential
of not only the gay market but also the non-traditional household market as a
whole:
Geographical Shifts in Population
This is a period of great migratory movements between and within
countries. Since the collapse of soviet eastern Europe, nationalities are
reasserting themselves and forming independent countries. The new countries
are making certain ethnic groups unwelcome (such as Russians in Latvia or
Muslims in Serbia), and many of these groups are migrating to safer areas. As
foreign groups enter other countries for political sanctuary, some local groups
start protesting. In the United states, there has been opposition to the influx of
immigrants from mexico, the Caribbean, and certain asian entrepreneurs are
taking advantage of the growth in immigrant populations and marketing their
wares specifically to these new members of the Population.
Shift from a Mass Market to Micro markets
The effect of all these changes is fragmentation the mass market into
numerous micro markets differentiated by age, sex, ethnic background,
education, geography, lifestyle, and other characteristics. Each group has strong
preferences and is reached through increasingly targeted communication and
distribution channels. Companies are abandoning the “shotgun approach” that
aimed at a mythical “average” consumer and are increasingly designing their
products and marketing programs for specific micro markets.
ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
Markets require purchasing power as well as people. The available
purchasing power in an economy depends on current income, prices, savings,
debt, and credit availability. Marketers must pay close attention to major trends
in income and consumer spending patterns.
Income Distribution
Nations vary greatly in level and distribution of income and
industrial structure. There are four types of industrial structures.
1.Substince economics: In a subsistence economy, the vast majority of people
engage in simple agriculture, consume most of their output, and barter the rest
for simple goods and services. These economics offer few opportunities for
marketers.
2. Raw-material-exporting economics: These economics are rich in one or more
natural resources but poor in other respects. Much of their revenue comes from
exporting these resources. Examples are Zaire (copper) and Saudi Arabia (oil).
These countries are good markets for extractive equipment, tools and supplies,
materials-handling equipment, and trucks. Depending on the number of foreign
residents and wealthy native rulers and landholders, they are also a market for
Western-style commodities and luxury goods.
3. Industrializing economics: In an industrializing economy, manufacturing
begins to account for 10 percent to 20 percent of gross domestic product.
Examples include India, Egypt, and the Philippines. As manufacturing increases,
the country relies more on imports of finished textiles, paper products, and
processed foods. Industrialization creates a new rich class and a small but
growing middle class, both demanding new types of goods.
4. Industrial economics: Industrial economies are major exporters of
manufactured goods and investment funds. They buy manufactured goods from
one another and also export them to other types of economies in exchange for
raw materials and semi finished goods. The large and varied manufacturing
activities of these nations and their sizable middle class make them rich markets
for all sorts of goods.
Marketers often distinguish countries with five different income –
distribution patterns: (1) very low incomes; (2) mostly low incomes; (3) very
low, very high incomes; (4) low, medium, high incomes; and (5) mostly medium
incomes.
Savings, Debt, and Credit Availability
Consumer expenditures are affected by consumer savings, debt, and
credit availability. The Japanese, for example, save about 13.1 percent of
their income, where as U.S consumers save about 4.7 percent. The result
has been that Japanese banks were able to loan money to Japanese
companies at a much lower interest rate than U.S. Banks could offer to U.S.
companies. Access to lower interest rates helped Japanese companies
expand faster. U.S. consumer also have a high debt-to-income ratio, which
slows down further expenditures on housing and large ticket items. Credit
is very available in the United States but at fairly high interest rates,
especially to lower income borrowers. Marketers must pay careful attention
to major changes in incomes, cost of living, interest rates, savings, and
borrowing patterns because they can have a high impact on business,
especially for companies whose products have high income and price
sensitivity.
A society’s economic system determines how it will allocate its
scarce resources. Traditionally, capitalisms, socialism, and communism
have been considered the world’s major economic systems. In general, the
western world’s economics can be classified as modified capitalist systems.
Under such systems, competition, both foreign and domestic, influences the
interaction of supply and demand. Competition is often discussed in this
context in terms of competitive market structures.
The competitive structure of a market is defined by the number of
competing firms in some segment of an economy and the proportion of the
market held by each competitor. Market structure influences pricing
strategies and creates barriers to competitors wishing to enter a market.
The four basic types of competitive market structure are pure competition,
monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopoly.
Pure competition exists when there are no barriers to competition. The
market consists of many small, competing firms and many buyers. This
means that there is a steady supply of the product and a steady for demand
for it. There fore, the price cannot be controlled by either the buyers or the
sellers. The product itself is homogeneous-that is, one seller’s offering is
identical to all others’ offerings. The markets for basic food commodities,
such as rice and mushrooms, approximate pure competition.
The principal characteristic of monopolistic competition is product
differentiation-a large number of sellers offering similar products
differentiated by only minor differenced in, for example, product design,
style, or technology. Firms engaged in monopolistic competition have
enough influence on the marketplace to exert some control over their own
prices. The fast-food industry provides a good example of monopolistic
competition.
Oligopoly, the third type of market structure, exists where a small number
of sellers dominate the market.
Finally, markets with only one seller, such as a local telephone
company or electric utility, are called monopolies. A monopoly exists in
markets which there are no suitable substitute products.
Economic conditions
Economic conditions around the world are obviously of interest to
marketers. The most significant long-term in the U.S. economy has been the
transition to a service economy. There has been a continuing shift of
workers away from manufacturing and into services, where almost 80
percent of U.S. jobs are to be found. This shift has greatly affected
economic conditions as well as marketing activity.
THE BUSINESS CYCLE
The business cycle reflects recurrent fluctuations in general economic
activity. The various booms and busts in the health of an economy influence
unemployment, inflation, and consumer spending and saving patterns,
which, in turn, influence marketing activity. The business cycle has four
phases:
• Prosperity – the phase in which the economy is operating at or near
full employment and both consumer spending and business output
are high.
• Recession – the download phase, in which consumer spending,
business output, and employment are decreasing.
• Depression – the low phase, in which unemployment is highest,
consumer spending is low, and business output had declined
drastically.
• Recovery – the upward phase, when employment, consumer
spending, and business output are rising.
Because marketing activity, such as the successful introduction of new
products is strongly influenced by the business cycle, marketing managers
watch the economic environment closely. Unfortunately, the business cycle
is not always easy to forecast. The phases of the cycle need not be equal in
intensity or duration, and the contractions and expansions of the economy
do not always follow a predictable pattern. Furthermore, not all economies
of the world are in the same stage of the business cycle. So a single global
forecast may not accurately predict activity in certain countries.
Marketing strategies in a period of prosperity differ substantially from
strategies in a period of depression.
The Health of a Country’s Economy
Two common measures of the health of a country’s economy are
gross domestic product (GDP) and gross national product (GNP). The GDP
measures the value of all the goods and services produced by workers and
capital in a country. The GNP measures the value of all the goods and
services produced by a country’s residents or corporations, regardless of
their location.
Political Legal Environment
The political environment - the practices and polices of governments –
and the legal environment - laws and regulations and their interpretationaffect
marketing activity in several ways. First, they can limit the actions
marketers are allowed to take – for example, by baring certain goods from
leaving a country, as when Congress passed the Export Administration Act,
which prohibited the export of strategic high-technology products to
nations such as Iran and Libya. Second, they may require marketers to take
certain actions. For instance, cookies called “chocolate chip cookies” are
required to contain chips made of real chocolate, and the surgeon general’s
warning must appear on all cigarette packages. Last, policies and laws may
absolutely prohibit certain actions by marketers – for example, the sale of
products such as narcotic drugs and nuclear weapons –except under the
strictest of controls. Political processes in other countries may have a
dramatic impact on international marketers.
Political and Legal forces
Every company’s conduct is influenced, often a great deal, by the political
and legal processes in our society. The political and legal forces on
marketing can be grouped into the following four categories.
• Monetary and fiscal policies. Marketing efforts are affected by the
level of government spending, the money supply, and tax legislation.
• Social legislation and regulations. Legislation affecting the
environment –antipollution laws, for example – and regulations set
by the Environmental Protection Agency fall into this category.
• Governmental relationships with industries. Here we find subsides in
agriculture, shipbuilding, passenger rail transportation, and other
industries. Tariffs and import quotas also affect specific industries.
Government deregulation continues to have an effect on financial
institutions and public utilities (such as electric and natural gas
suppliers) as well as on the telecommunications and transportation
industries.
• Legislation related specifically to marketing. Marketing executives do
not have to be lawyers, but they should know something about laws
affecting marketing – why they were passed, their main provisions,
and current ground rules set by the courts and regulatory agencies
for administering them.
Up to this point, our discussion of political and legal forces affecting
marketing has dealt essentially with the activities of the federal
government. However, there are also strong political and legal
influences at the state and local levels. For instance, many firms’
marketing programs are affected by zoning requirements, interest-rate
regulations, state and local taxes, prohibitions against unsubstantiated
environmental claims, and laws affecting door-to-door selling. All of
these have been put in place by numerous states and municipalities.
Science and Technology
Although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, science is the
accumulation of knowledge about human beings and the environment, and
technology is the application of such knowledge for practical purposes. Thus,
the discovery that certain diseases can be prevented by immunization is a
scientific discovery, but how and when immunization is administered is a
technological issue.
Like other changes in the macro environment, scientific and
technological advances can revolutionize an industry or destroy one. Examples
of organization that suffered because they did not adapt to changing technology
are easy to find.
Western Union’s telegrams, which were sent by an electromechanical
device, were made obsolete by telephones, computers, and fax machines. More
recently, Atari and several other marketers of video games fell victim to
competitors, such as Sony Playstation and Nintendo, that were more
technologically advanced, with higher-performance microprocessors.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND THE INTERNET: CHANGING
EVERYTHING
Historians and anthropologists have pointed out that technological
innovations can change more than the way business is done in an industry.
Indeed, major technological innovations can change entire cultures. For
example, the mechanical clock made regular working hours possible. The
invention of the steam engine and rail roads and the mass production of
automobiles changed the way people thought about distance—the words
near and far took on new meaning. Television changed the way people think
about news and entertainment.
“Today’s computer technology can be characterized by the phrase
digital convergence. Almost all industries, profession, and trades are being
pulled closer together by a common technological bond: the digitising of the
work product into the ones and zeros of computer language. Digital
technology, especially the Internet, is having such a profound impact on
marketing and society that it deserves special attention.
THE INTERNET
The Internet is worldwide network of computers that gives users
access to information and documents from distant sources. People using
the Internet may be viewing information stored on a host computer halfway
around the world. The World Wide Web (WWW) refers to a system of
Internet servers, computers supporting a retrieval system that organizes
information into Hypertext documents called Web pages. (Hypertext is a
computer language that allows the linking and sharing of information in
different formats. HTTP [Hyper Text Transfer Protocol] is the most
commonly used method for transferring and displaying information
formatted in HTML [Hyper Text Mark-up Language] on the Internet.)
In our prologue, we said that the Internet is transforming society.
Time is collapsing. Distance is no longer an obstacle. “Instantaneous” has
a new meaning. Our intent was to impress on the reader that the Internet is
the most important communication medium to come along since television.
The Internet, as a new medium for our new era, is a macro environmental
force that is having a profound impact.
We are among those who believe that the Internet is changing
everything-especially commerce. We firmly believe that e-commerce is the
business model for the new millennium and that marketing’s role has been
changed forever by the Internet. This does not mean that the familiar
neighbourhood brick-and-mortar stores and all traditional marketing
institution like shopping centres will disappear, but it does mean that they
will adapt and change as new forms of Internet marketing become more
prevalent.
PORTALS
As you probably know, over the past few years, most major
corporations, government agencies, universities, newspapers, TV networks,
and libraries have set up e-mail systems and Web sites. The introductory
page or opening screen, of a web site is called the home page. The home
page provides basic information about the purpose of the website, along
with a “menu” of selections, or links, that lead to other screens with more
specific information. Thus, each page can have connections, or hyperlinks,
to other pages, which may be on the organization’s own computer or on any
computer connected to the Internet.
The Internet can be thought of as the world’s largest public library.
This means that the Internet user can be faced with retrieval and filtering
burden-it takes time to search various Web sites and determine if the
information you want is there. To solve this problem, many companies such
as Yahoo!, Excite, Snap, and Go Network have established themselves as
portals to the Internet. A portal is a Web site that offers a broad array of
resources and services, such as news services, search engines, e-mail,
discussion forums, and online shopping. The first portals were online
service provides (for example, America online), but now most service
providers with search engines have transformed themselves into Web
portals. Many marketers view the portal business as a media business that
can attract and retain a larger audience.
Internet illustrates, scientific and technological forces have a
pervasive influence on the marketing of most goods and services. Because
changes related to science and technology can have a major impact,
organizations of all types must monitor these changes and adjust their
marketing mixes to meet them.
Technology
Technology has a tremendous impact on our lifestyles, our
consumption patterns, and our economic well-being. Just think of the effect
of technological developments such as the airplane, plastics, television,
computers, antibiotics, lasers, and-of course-video games. Except perhaps
for the airplane, all these technologies reached their major markets in your
lifetime of your patterns’ life time. Think how your life in the future might
be affected by cures for the common cold, development of energy sources to
replace fossil fuels, low-cost methods of making ocean water drinkable, or
even commercial travel to the moon.
Technological breakthroughs can affect markets in three ways:
• By starting entirely new industries, as computers, lasers, and robots
have done.
• By radically altering, or virtually destroying, existing industries.
When in first came out, television crippled the radio and movie
industries. And computers all but replaced typewriters.
• By simulating markets and industries not related to the new
technology. New home appliances and microwavable foods give
people additional time in which to engage in other activities.
Advances in technology also affect how marketing is carries out. We
should also note that technology is a mixed blessing in some ways. A
new technology may improve our lives in one area while creating
environmental and social problems in other areas. Television and video
games provide built in child care, but they are criticized for reducing
family discussions and reading by children. The automobile is a
convenient from of personal transportation, but it also creates traffic
jams and air pollution. In turn, technology is expected to solve some
problems it is criticized of having caused (air pollution, for example).
Micro Environment:
The microenvironment consists of the actors of the company’s
immediate environment that affect the performance of the company. There
include the suppliers, Marketing intermediaries, competitors, customers
and publics. The micro environment forces need not necessarily affect all
the firms in a particular industry, in the same way, some of the micro
factors may be particular to a firm for example; a firm which depend on a
supplier may have a supplier environment which is entirely different from
that of a firm whose supply source is different. It is quite obvious that the
microenvironment factors are more intimately linked with the company
than the macro factors.
Fig. 2.2 Micro Environment Forces
Suppliers
An important force in the micro environment of a company is the
suppliers, i.e., those who supply the inputs like raw materials and
components to the company. The importance of reliable source/sources of
supply of the smooth functioning of the business is obvious. Uncertainly
regarding the supply or other supply constraints often compel companies to
maintain high inventories causing cost increases.
Because of the sensitivity of the supply, many companies give high
importance to vendor development. Vertical integration, where feasible,
helps solve the supply problem.
It is very risky to depend on a single supplier because a strike, lock
out or any other production problem with that supplier may seriously affect
the company. Similarly, a change in the attitude or behaviour of the
supplier may also affect the company. Hence, multiple sources of supply
often help reduce such risks.
The supply management assumes more importance in a scarcity
environment. “Company purchasing agents are learning how to “Wine and
dine” suppliers to obtain favourable treatment during periods of shortages.
In other words, the purchasing department might have to “market” itself to
suppliers”.
A business cannot sell a product without being able to make or buy
it. That’s why the people or firms that supply the goods or services required
by a producer to make what it sells are critical to marketing success. So too
are the firms that provide the merchandise a wholesaler or retailer resells.
Micro Environment
components influences on
the marketing program
Publics
Competitors Suppliers Marketing
Intermediaries
Customers
And that’s why we consider a firm’s suppliers a vital part of its marketing
environment.
Marketing executives often are not concerned enough with the
supply side of marketing. How ever, when shortages occur, they recognize
the need for cooperative relationships with suppliers. Further, as online
sales rise, Internet companies are paying much more attention to sources of
supply and also the methods by which orders will be processed and
delivered to buyers.
Customers
As it is often exhorted, the major task of a business is to create and
sustain customers. A business exists only because of its customers.
Monitoring the customer sensitivity is, therefore, a prerequisite for the
business success.
A company may have different categories of consumers like
individuals, households, industries and other commercial establishments,
and government and other institutions. For example the customers of a type
company may include individual automobile owners, automobile
manufactures, public sector transport undertakings and other transport
operators.
Depending on a single customer is often too risky because it may
place the company in a poor bargaining position, apart from the risks of
losing business consequent to the winding up of business by the customer or
due to the customer’s switching over to the competitors of the company.
The choice of the customer segments should be made by considering
a number of factors including the relative profitability, dependability,
stability of demand, growth prospects and the extent of competition.
Consumers
Although a company has control over its selection of a target
market, it cannot control the characteristics of the population. Firms can
react to, but not control, such consumer characteristics as these: age,
income, marital status, occupation, race, education, and place and type of
residence. For example, although Gerber can develop new baby foods, it
cannot stop the slowdown in the number of U.S. births. To continue
growing, Gerber has had to expand into other goods and services (such as
life insurance).
A firm must understand the interpersonal influences on consumer
behaviour. Consumers’ purchases are affected by their family, friends,
religion, and other social contacts-and by the customs and taboos shaping a
culture and society. For instance, in some parts of the United States, store
hours are restricted, liquor sales are strictly regulated (as to prices, other
goods that can be sold, and days open), and movies are closely rated. In
other parts, stores are regularly open for long hours, seven days a week;
liquor is sold I many types of outlets; and any movie can be shown uncut.
Because consumers act differently in purchasing various types of
goods and services, a firm needs to comprehend the consumer’s decisionprocess
the steps a person goes through when buying a product. In the case
of a car, a consumer carefully searches for information on a number of
models, ranks several alternatives, selects a favourite, negotiates terms, and
finally completes the purchase. With an inexpensive restaurant meal, a
person looks at a watch, sees it is lunchtime, and goes to nearby first-food
outlet.
Today, consumer-rights groups and organizations speak out on
behalf of consumers at public hearings, Stockholder meetings, and before
the media. To avoid negative consequences brought on by active consumer
groups, a firm must communicate with consumers on relevant issues (such
as a product recall), anticipate problems (such as delays in shipping
ordered goods), respond to complaints (such as unsatisfactory customer
service), and make sure it has good community relations (such as
sponsoring neighbourhood projects).
Competition
To a particular business, competition usually refers to firms that
market similar or substitutable products in the same geographic area. In
general, the term competition refers to the rivalry among businesses for
consumer dollars. For example, the manager of a university bookstore
views all bookstores near the university as competition but probably does
not think university bookstores in other geographic areas as competition. In
general, all the bookstores near the university compete for students’ dollars.
In developing and implementing a marketing program, an
organization must consider the type of competition in its markets and assess
the actions of its competition.
Type of Competition
The number of organizations that sell a product may affect the
strength of competition. When there are many business selling a particular
product, for example, price considerations and product differences are
more important that when only one business is selling that product. The
number of firms selling a similar product determines the structure of the
market.A monopoly exists when only one firm marketing a product for
which there are no close substitutes. The firm has complete control over the
supply of the product. Although monopolies are generally discouraged, the
United States government allows utility companies, such as Commonwealth
Edison Co. and Cooke Cablevision, to have monopolies in providing
electricity, cable television, and other utilities because the costs of operating
such business are too high for most organizations to enter those markets.
An oligopoly exists when few firms are marketing a product and
they control much of the supply of the product. Products in oligopolistic
competition may be homogeneous (similar or uniform in nature), such as
coal or steel, or differentiated (having real or perceived differences), such as
cigarettes or airline services. In an oligopoly, each seller must consider the
reactions of other sellers to changes in marketing activities. During the
airlines price wars of the 1980s, for example, whenever Continental Airlines
Corp. reduced its fares, other air carriers had to follow suit to remain
competitive.
Monopolistic competition exists when many firms are marketing a
product; each firm attempts to difference its product to convince consumers
that its product is the one to buy. For example, Apple Computer, Inc., has
established a differential advantage for its computers through a well-known
design, advertising, and a user – friendly image. Although many other
brands of computers are available, Apple has carved out its share of the
market through use of a differential marketing strategy.
Perfect competition, if it existed, would be a market with a large
number of sellers, no one of which could significantly influence the price or
supply of the products. Products would be homogeneous, and potential
sellers of the products would have full knowledge of the market and easy
entry into it. There is no market with perfect competition because social
and economic factors make it impossible for all buyers and sellers to have
complete information about the products. The closest example of perfect
competition is the market for agricultural products such as corn, cotton,
and soybeans.
Assessing Competition
Business needs to monitor the actions of their competition and assess
the changes their competitors are making. For example, a marketing
manager should determine if, and why, major competitors are changing
prices, product designs, warranties and service policies, packaging,
distribution methods, or promotional factors such as sales force size and
advertising. Knowledge of such changes helps the marketing manager to
decide what adjustments to make to current marketing strategies and how
to plan new ones.Marketers can obtain information about changes their
competitors are making from direct observation, salespeople, customers,
trade journals, marketing research, and distributors.
Marketing intermediaries
The immediate environment of a company may consist of number
marketing intermediaries which are “firms that aid the company in
promoting, selling and distributing its goods to final buyers”
The marketing intermediaries include middlemen such as agents and
merchants who “help the company find customers or close sales with them”
Physical distribution firms which “assist the company in stocking and
moving goods from their origin to their destination” such as warehouses
and transportation firms; marketing service agencies which “assist the
company in targeting and promoting its products to the right markets”
such as advertising agencies, marketing research firms, media firms, and
consulting firms; and financial intermediaries which finance marketing
activities and insure business risks. Marketing intermediaries are vital links
between the company and the final consumers.
Marketing intermediaries are independent business organizations
that directly aid in the flow of goods and services between a marketing
organization and its markets. There are two types of intermediaries :(1) the
firms we call middle men – wholesalers and retailers, and (2) various
facilitating organization furnishing such services as transportation,
warehousing and financing that are needed to complete exchanges between
buyers and sellers. These intermediaries operate between a company and its
markets and between a company and its suppliers. Thus they are part of
what we call channels of distribution.
In some cases, it may be more efficient for a company to not use
marketing intermediaries. A producer can deal directly with its suppliers or
sell directly to its customers and do its own shipping, financing, and so on.
But marketing intermediaries are specialists in their respective fields. They
often do a better job at a lower cost than the marketing organization can do
by itself. Collectively, the company, its suppliers and its intermediaries (both
middlemen and facilitating organizations) comprise a value chain. That is,
all of these enterprises-each in its own way-perform activities to add value
to the product that is eventually bought by an individual or an
organization. It’s relatively easy to comprehend the value added by a
manufacturer when it combines various materials to form a finished
product. But it’s more difficult to detect the value added by other members
of the value chain. For example, consider a financial institution that agrees
to provide credit to consumers who buy vehicles from an auto dealership.
This facilitating organization has added value to the product, essentially by
making it easier for a prospective buyer to make a purchase.
Publics
A company may encounter certain publics in its environment. “A
public is any group that has an actual or potential interest in or impact on
an organization’s ability to achieve its interests” Media publics, citizens
action publics and local publics are some examples.
Some companies are seriously affected by such publics. For example,
one of the leading companies in India was frequently under attack by the
media public, particularly by a leading daily which was allegedly bent on
bringing down the share prices of the company by tarnishing its image.
Such exposures or campaigns by the media might even influence the
government decisions affecting the company.Many companies are also
affected by local publics. Environmental pollution is an issue often taken up
by a number of local publics. Actions by local publics on this issue have
caused some companies to suspend operations and/or take pollution
abatement measures.
Growth of consumer publics is an important development affecting
business. It is wrong to think that all public are threats to business. Some of
the actions of publics may cause problems for companies. However, some
publics are an opportunity for the business. Some businessmen, for
example, regard consumerism as an opportunity for the business. The
media public may be used to disseminate useful information. Similarly,
fruitful cooperation between a company and the local publics may be
established for the mutual benefit of the company and the local community.
MONITORING THE MARKETING ENVIRONMENT:
The marketing environment is dynamic it is always changing. Whether
the forces of the marketing environment fluctuate slowly or rapidly, they create
uncertainty, obstacles, and opportunities. Marketers must constantly monitor the
marketing environment to be prepared to capitalize on opportunities and
minimise adverse conditions. To monitor changes in the marketing environment
effectively, marketing managers must engage in environmental scanning and
analysis.
Environmental Analysis:
Environmental analysis is the process of assessing and interpreting the
information gathered through environmental scanning. A manager reviews the
information for accuracy, ties to reconcile inconsistencies in the data, and
interprets the findings. Analysis allows a marketing manager to discern changes
in the environment and, if possible, or predict future changes. By evaluating
these changes, a marketing manager should be able to determine possible threats
and opportunities associated with environmental fluctuations. Knowledge of
current and predicted environmental changes aids a marketing manager in
assessing the performance of current marketing efforts and in developing
marketing strategies for the future.
Approaches for Responding to Environmental Forces:
In responding to environmental forces, marketers use one of two general
approaches. In the first approach, marketing managers view the forces of the
marketing environment as uncontrollable. According to this traditional
approach, an organisation can do little to alter the influence of the taking this
reactive approach tries to prepare itself to respond quickly to changes in the
environment. For example, although an organization has little power to alter
economic conditions new regulations, or the actions of competitors, it can
monitor the environment closely and adjust its marketing strategy to counter the
effects of inflation, a new product safety law, or product improvements by
competitors.
A second response to the marketing environment is to take a proactive,
or aggressive, stance toward environmental forces. A growing number of
marketing professionals argue that the forces of the marketing environment can
be controlled, at least to some extent. They believe that marketing itself
represents a significant force that can be used to create change and extend its
influence over the environment. Through lobbying, legal action, advertising of
key issues, and public relations, organisations can alter some environmental
forces. For instance, a firm can control its competitive environment by using
aggressive pricing or competitive advertising strategies to influence the
decisions of rival firms. It can lobby political officials to repeal legislation that
it believes will restrict its business. Likewise, a firm can use political skills and
public relations activities to open foreign marketer to American business.
Neither response to environmental forces is superior. For some
organisations, the reactive approach is more appropriate; for other firms, the
proactive approach leads to better performance. The selection of a particular
approach is determined by an organisations managerial philosophies, objectives,
financial resources, markets and human skills, and by the composition of the set
of environmental forces within which the organisation operates.
UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL SERVICES CUSTOMER
The consumer is the central focus of marketing. Thus to develop
successful marketing plans. It is necessary to examine consumer characteristics
and needs, life-style and purchase processes and then structure marketing mix
decisions accordingly.
The scope of consumer analysis included the study of who buys, what
they buy, why they buy, how they buy, when they buy, how often they buy. By
analysing consumer, a firm is better able to determine the most appropriate
audience to which will appeal and the combination of marketing factors that will
satisfy this audience. The Basis concepts necessary for understanding
consumers, selecting target markets, and retating marketing strategy to
consumer behaviour are detailed. It also examine final consumer demographics.
Social and psychological characteristics and decision making. Final consumers
purchase goods and services for personal, family or household use. The
organisational consumer buy for production, operation or resale.
CONSUMER DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE :
Consumer demographics are easily identifiable and measurable
population characteristics consumer demographics and objective and
quantifiable population characteristics. They are easy to identify collect,
measure and analyse. The demographics data are available from many
secondary sources. Several secondary sources offer extensive information on
consumer demographics. The most important significant source is the census of
population. These are different factors determining a consumer demographic
profile.
Population size, Gender, and Age:
The population size refers the substantial market for all types of goods
and services. The companies need to focus efforts and appeal to more mature
markets. Population gender and age will and influence on buying behaviour.
Location, Housing andMobility :
Location, Housing and mobility is the important factor influencing the
buying behaviour. The mobility of the population varies by geographic region.
The density of population makes marketing programmes more cost efficient and
available to larger groups of consumers opportunities for mass distribution and
advertising are plentiful.
Income and Expenditures:
Income is the most powerful economic factor that influences consumer
behaviour. Income is the return of one’s economic endeavours. It gives
purchasing power to consumers which help them strike an exchange, create a
purchase sales transaction.
Occupation and Education:
Occupation and Education influence purchasing behaviour. The
education influence how decisions are made. Educated consumers seek more
information and better quality product. Today the trend is towards while collar
and service occupations is continuing. It have great impact on buying
behaviour.
Martial Status:
Marriage and family remain powerfull tool in influencing buying
behaviour. The family unit can influence the particular type of products
purchased. A family has related person residing together. A household has one
or more persons who may not be related.
Thus a consumer demographic profile combines individual demographic
factors. The consumer demographics are objective and quantifiable population
statistics. They include population size, gender, age, location, housing mobility,
income, expenditures, occupation, education and martial status.
Consumer Life-Style :
A consumer’s life-style represents the way in which a person lives and
spend s time and money. It is a function of the social and psychological factors
that have been internalized by that person.
Consumer life-style describes how people live and can be measured by
psychographics. Psychographics is the technique that classifies consumer lifestyle
by investigating how people, what interest them and what they like. An
AIO (activities, interests, and options) inventory is used in psychographic
research to determine consumer life-style. The social aspects of life-style
include culture, social class, social performance, reference groups, opinion
leaders, the family life cycle and time expenditures. The psychological aspect of
life-style include personality, attitudes, the levels of class conscious, motivation,
perceived risk innovativeness and the importance purchase. The Social and
psychological factor overlap and complement each other they are not
independent or exclusive of one other.
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CONSUMER:
The social profile of a consumer is based on a combination of culture,
social class, social performance, reference groups, opinion leaders, family life
cycle and time expenditure.
Culture:
The culture has an considerable influence on consumer behaviour.
Culture consists of the acquired or cultivated behaviour and thought of
individuals within a society, as well as of intellectual, artistic and social ideas
and institution which the member of the society profess and to which they strive
to conform. The culture affects motives, brand comprehension, attitude and
intentions to purchase. Culture consists essentially of traditional ideas and in
particular values which are attached to these ideas social class.
Social class
Social class separates society into divisions. A social class system
reflects a status hierarchy by which groups and individual are classified in the
basis of esteem and prestige. Such a system separates society into divisions,
grouping people with similar values and life-styles. Social class are based on
such attributes as income, occupation, education and type of dwelling. Each
social class may represent a district target market for a firm.
Social Performance:
Social performance describes how a person fulfils his or her roles.
Social performance is how a person carries out his or her roles as a worker,
family member, citizen, and friend. At one extreme, a person may be a vicepresident
in a company, have a happy family life, be an active member of the
community and have many friends. At the other extreme, a person may never be
promoted higher than assistant manger, be divorce, not participate in community
affairs, and have few friends. It should be clear that many combinations of these
performance criteria are possible for example vice-president and divorced.
Reference Group:
A reference group is one that influences a person’s thoughts or actions.
It may be aspirational, membership, or dissociative. An aspirational group is
one to which a person does not belong but wishes to belong, such as a fraternity,
professional society, or social club. A membership group is one to which the
person does belong, such as a family, union, or “working women”. A
dissociative group is one to which the person does not want to belong, such as
an unpopular social group, school dropouts, or a low achievement group.
For many goods and services, reference groups have a considerable
impact on purchase behaviour. Face-to-face reference groups, such as family or
fraternity, have the most influence on a person. Yet, other more general
reference groups also influence behaviour and these are frequently appealed to
when marketing products.
OPINION LEADERS:
Opinion leader affect other through face to face contact. Opinion
leaders, these are people to whom other consumers turn for advice and
information via fact to face communication. Opinion leaders tend to be expert
about a product category, socially accepted, long-standing members of the
community, gregarious, active, and trusted, and they tend to seek approval from
others. Opinion leaders normally have an impact over a narrow range of
products: they are perceived as more credible than company sponsored sources
of information.
The Family Life Cycle :
The family life cycle describes family stages, which often use joint
decision making. The family life cycle describes how a family evolves through
various stages from bachelorhood to solitary retirement. At each stage, needs,
experience, income, and family composition change. In addition, the use of
joint decision making the process whereby two or more consumers have input
into purchases changes throughout the cycle. The family life cycle is an
excellent tool for market segmentation and for developing marketing campaigns.
The number of people in different stages in the cycle can be obtained through a
study of demographic data.
This cycle’s stages include bachelor, newly married full nest (children at
home), empty nest, and sole survivor. However, when using life cycle analysis,
the growing numbers of people who do not follow the traditional pattern because
they do not marry, do not have children, become divorced, belong to families
with two working spouses (even if there are small children), and so, on, should
be noted. The concept of the household life cycle which incorporates the life
stages of both family and non family households is taking on greater
significance.
Time Expenditures:
Time expenditure reflect the work week, family care, and leisure.
Time expenditures refer to and involve the types of activities in which a
person participates and the amount of time allocated to them. In recent decades,
the average work weak for an individual’s primary job has declined by about
five hours per week from roughly 40 hours per week to 35: but more people are
working at to jobs. Two other trends are worth noting: urban Americans are
spending significantly less time in family care, and leisure time activities are
increasing substantially. Americans engage in watching television, driving for
pleasure, swimming, sight seeing, walking, bicycling, attending spectator
events, and playing outdoor games and sports.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CONSUMERS
Consumer’s
Psychological
Profile
Personality
Attitudes of
Opinions
Class
Consciousne
ss
Motivation Perceived
Risk
Innovative
ness
Importance of
Purchase
Fig 2.3 Consumer Psychological Profile
A Personality:
A personality describes a person’s composite internal, enduring
psychological traits. A personality is the sum total of an individual’s enduring
internal psychological traits that make the person unique. Self confidence,
dominance, autonomy, sociability, defensiveness, adaptability, and emotional
stability are selected personality traits. Personality has a strong impact on an
individual’s behaviour. For example a self confident and sociable person often
will not purchase the same goods and services as an inhibited and aloof person.
It is necessary to remember that a personality is made up of many traits
operating in conjunction with one another.
Attitudes (opinions)
Attitudes can be positive negative, or neutral. Attitudes (opinions) are an
individual’s positive, neutral, or negative feelings about goods, services, firms,
people, issues, and /or institutions. Attitudes are shaped by demographics,
social factors, and other psychological characteristics. One role of marketing is
to generate favourable attitudes; given the intensive competition in many
industries, a firm cannot normally succeed without positive consumer attitudes.
When studying attitudes, two concepts should often be measured; the
attitude itself and the purchase intent toward a firm’s brand.
Class Consciousness:
Class consciousness is low for inner directed persons and high for outer
directed persons. Class consciousness is the extent to which social status is
desired and pursued by a person. It helps determine and individual’s interest in
social class mobility, the use of reference groups, and the importance of prestige
purchase. An inner directed person is interested in pleasing him or herself. He
or she is generally attracted by products that perform well functionally, items
that are challenging and can be used when the person is alone, and do it yourself
products. An inner directed person is not concerned with social mobility, relies
on his or her own judgement, and does not value prestige items. An outer
directed person is interested in pleasing the people around him or her. Upward
social mobility, approval by reference groups, and ownership of prestige items
are sought. This person is generally attracted by products providing social
visibility, well known brands and uniqueness. Functional performance may be
less important.
Motivation:
Motivation is a drive impelling action: it is caused by motives.
Motivation involves the positive or negative needs, goals, desires, and forces
that impel an individual toward or away from certain actions, activities, objects,
or conditions. By identifying and appealing to consumer’s motives, the reasons
for behaviour, a marketer can generate positive motivation.
Each person has distinct motives for buying and these changes by
situation and over time. Consumers often combine economic (price, durability)
and emotional (status, self esteem) motives when making a purchase.
Perceived risk:
Perceived risk is the uncertainty felt by the consumers. Perceived risk is
the level of uncertainty a consumer believes exists regarding the outcome of a
purchase decision: this belief may or may not be correct. Perceived risk can be
divided into six major types:
1. Functional – risk that a product will not perform adequately.
2. Physical – risk that a product will be harmful.
3. Financial – risk that a product will not be worth its cost.
4. Social – risk that a product will cause embarrassment before others.
5. Psychological – risk that one’s ego will be bruised.
6. Time – risk that the time spent making a purchase will be wasted if the
product does not perform as expected.
Companies must deal with perceive risk, even if consumers are incorrect in
their beliefs, because a high level of perceived risk usually dampens customer
motivation. Firms can reduce perceived risk by providing greater information,
developing and maintaining a reputation for superior quality, offering money
back guarantees, avoiding controversial ingredients, and so on.
Innovativeness:
Innovativeness is trying a new product others see as risky. A customer
who is willing to try a new good or service perceived by others as having a high
degree of risk is said to exhibit innovativeness. An innovator is likely to be
younger and well educated, and to have an above average income for his or her
social class. This person is also apt to be interested in change, achievement
oriented, open-minded, status conscious, mobile and venture some. It is
essential for marketers to identify and appeal to innovators when introducing a
new good or service.
Importance of Purchase:
The importance of a purchase determine the time, effort, and money
spent. The importance of a purchase affects the time and effort a consumer will
spend shopping for a product as well as the amount of money allocated. An
important purchase will involve careful decision making, high perceived risk,
and probably a large amount of money. An unimportant purchase will receive
little decision making time (the good or service may be avoided altogether) have
little perceived risk, and probably are inexpensive.
BUYING DECISION PROCESS:
The consumer passes through five stages; problem recognition,
information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, and post
purchase behaviour. Clearly the buying process starts long before the actual
purchase and has consequences long afterward.
The model figure 2.4 implies that consumers pass sequentially through
all five stages in buying a product. But this is not the case; Consumers may
skip or reverse some stages. A women buying her regular brand of toothpaste
goes directly from the need for toothpaste to the purchase decision, skipping
information search and evaluation. However, we will use the model figure 2.4
because it captures the full range of considerations that arise when a consumer
faces a highly involving new purchase.
Problem
recognition
Information
Search
Evaluation of
alternatives
Purchase
decision
Post
purchase
behaviour
Fig 2.4 consumer Decision making process
PROBLEM RECOGNITION
The buying process starts when the buyer recognized a problem or need.
The need can be triggered by internal or external stimuli. In the former case,
one of the person’s normal needs hunger, thirst, sex rises to a threshold level and
becomes a drive. In the latter case, a need is aroused by an external stimuilus.
A person passes a bakery and sees freshly baked bread that stimulates here
hunger; she admires a neighbor’s new car; or she watches a television ad for a
Hawaiian vacation.
Marketers need to identify the circumstances that trigger a particular
need. By gather in information from a number of consumers, marketers can
identify they most frequent stimuli that spark an interest in a product category.
They can then develop marketing strategies that trigger consumer interest.
INFOMRAITON SEARCH:
An aroused consumer will be inclined to search for more information.
We can distinguish between two levels of arousal. The milder search state is
called heightened attention. At this level a person simply becomes more
receptive to information about a product.
At the next level, the person may enter active information search;
looking for reading material, phoning friends, and visiting stores to learn about
the product. Of key interest to the marketer are the major information sources to
which the consumer will turn and the relative influence each will have on the
subsequent purchase decision. Consumer information sources fall into four
groups.
Personal sources : Family, friends, neighbours, acquaintances
Commercial Sources : Advertising, salespersons, dealers,
packaging, displays
Public sources : Mass media, consumer rating organizations
Experiential sources : Handling, examining, using the product.
The relative amount and influence of these information sources vary with
the product category and the buyer’s characteristics. Generally speaking, the
consumer receives the most information about a product from commercial
sources that is, marketer dominated sources. But the most effective information
comes from personal sources. Each information source performs a different
function in influencing the buying decision. Commercial information normally
performs an informing function, and personal sources perform a legitimizing or
evaluation function.
EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES
Some basic concepts will help us understand consumers evaluation
processes; First the consumer is trying to satisfy a need. Second, the consumer
is looking for certain benefits from the product solution. Third, the consumer
sees each product as a bundle of attributes with varying abilities of delivering
the benefits sought to satisfy this need. The attributes of interest to buyers vary
by product.
Consumers vary as to which product attributes they see as most relevant
and the importance they attach to each attribute. They will pay the most
attention to attributes that deliver the sought benefits. The market for a product
can often be segmented according to attributes that are salient to different
consumer groups.
The consumer develops a set of brand beliefs about where each brand
stands on each attribute. The set of beliefs about a brand make up the brand
image. The consumer’s brand image will vary with his or her experiences as
filtered by the effects of selective perception, selective distortion, and selective
retention.
The consumer arrives at attitudes (judgements, preferences) toward the
various brands through an attribute evaluation procedure.
PURCHASE DECISION
In the evaluation stage, the consumer forms preferences among the
brands in the choice set. The consumer may also form an intention to buy the
most preferred brand. However, two factors can intervene between the purchase
intention and the purchase decision.
The first factor is the attitudes of others. The extent to which another
person’s attitude reduces one’s preferred alternative depends on two things :
1. the intensity of the other person’s negative attitude toward the
consumer’s preferred alternative and
2. the consumer’s motivation to comply with the other person’s wishes.
The more intense the other person’s negativism and the closer the other
person is to the consumer, the more the consumer will adjust this or her
purchase intention.
The second factor is unanticipated situational factors that may erupt to
change the purchase intention. Jack Hamilton might lose his job, some other
purchase might become more urgent, or a store salesperson may turn him off.
Preferences and even purchase intentions are not completely reliable predicators
of purchase behaviour.
In executing a purchase intention, the consumer may make up to five
purchase sub decisions; a brand decision (brand A) vendor decision (dealer 2)
quantity decision (one computer) timing decision (weekend) and payment
method decision (credit card). Purchases of every day products involve fewer
decision and less deliberation.
POST PURCHASE BEHAVIOUR:
After purchasing the product, the consumer will experience some level
of satisfaction or dissatisfaction. The marketer’s job does not end when the
product is bought. Marketers must monitor post purchase satisfaction, post
purchase actions, and post purchase product uses.
POST PURCHASE SATISFACTION
What determines whether the buyer will be highly satisfied, some what
satisfied, or dissatisfied with a purchase ? The buyer’s satisfaction is function of
the closeness between the buyer’s expectations and the product’s perceived
performance. In performance falls short of expectations, the customer is
disappointed; if it meets expectations, the customer is satisfied ; if it excess
expectations, the customer is delighted. These feelings make a difference is
whether the customer buys the product again and talks favourably or
unfavourable about the product to others .
POST PURCHASE ACTIONS
The consumer’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the product will
influence subsequent behaviour. If the consumer is satisfied, he or she will
exhibit a higher probability or purchasing the product again.
Dissatisfied consumers may abandon or return the product. They may
seek information that confirms its high value. They may take public action by
complaining to the company, going to a lawyer, or complaining to other groups
(such as business, private, or government agencies). Private actions include
making a decision to stop buying the product (exit option) or warning friends
(voice option). In all these cases, the seller has done a poor job of satisfying the
customer.
Post purchase Use and Disposal
Marketers should also monitor how buyers use and dispose of the
product. If consumers store the product in a closet, the product is probably not
very satisfying, and word of mouth will not be strong. If they sell or trade the
product, new product sales will be depressed. Consumers may also find new
uses for the product: If consumers throw the product away, the marketer needs
to know how they dispose of it, especially if it can hurt the environment.
SERVICE QUALITY – GAP MODEL AND QUALITY DIMENSIONS
Service firms like other organizations are realizing the significance of
customer-centered philosophies and are turning to quality management
approaches to help managing their businesses. The topic has started with the
concept of service quality and has demonstrated the model of service quality
gaps. SERVQUAL as an effective approach has been studied and its role in the
analysis of the difference between customer expectations and perceptions has
been highlighted with support of an example, Outcomes of the study outline the
fact that although SERQUAL could close one of the important service quality
gaps associated with external customer services, it could be extended to close
other major gaps and therefore, it could be developed in order to be applied for
internal customers, i.e. employees and service providers.
Managers in the service sector are under increasing pressure to
demonstrate that their services are customer-focused and that continuous
performance improvement is being delivered. Given the financial and resource
constraints under which service organisations must manage it is essential that
customer expectations are properly understood and measured and that, from the
customers perspective, any gaps in service quality are identified. This
information then assists a manager in identifying cost-effective ways of closing
service quality gaps and of prioritizing which gaps to focus on – a critical
decision given scarce resources.
While there have been efforts to study service quality, there has been no
general agreement on the measurement of the concept. The majority of the work
to date has attempted to use the SERVQUAL (Parasuraman et al., 1985; 1988)
methodology in an effort to measure service quality.
One of the aims of this topic involves the use of SERVQUAL instrument
in order to ascertain any actual or perceived gaps between customer expectations
and perceptions of the service offered. Another aim of this toipc is to point out
how management of service improvement can become more logical and
integrated with respect to the prioritized service quality dimensions and their
affections on increasing/decreasing service quality gaps. In the following, after a
brief review of the service quality concept, the model of service quality gaps and
the SERVQUAL methodology is demonstrated and an example is presented to
pinpoint the application of the SERVQUAL approach. Then, after a discussion,
major conclusions are derived.
Service Quality
Service quality is a concept that has aroused considerable interest and
debate in the research literature because of the difficulties in both defining it and
measuring it with no overall consensus emerging on either (Wisniewski, 2001).
There are a number of different "definitions" as to what is meant by service
quality. One that is commonly used defines service quality as the extent to
which a service meets customers’ needs or expectations (Lewis and Mitchell,
1990; Dotchin and Oakland, 1994a; Asubonteng et al., 1996; Wisniewski and
Donnelly, 1996). Service quality can thus be defined as the difference between
customer expectations of service and perceived service. If expectations are
greater than performance, then perceived quality is less than satisfactory and
hence customer dissatisfaction occurs (Parasuraman et al., 1985; Lewis and
Mitchell, 1990).
Always there exists an important question: why should service quality be
measured? Measurement allows for comparison before and after changes, for the
location of quality related problems and for the establishment of clear standards
for service delivery. Edvardsen et al. (1994) state that, in their experience, the
starting point in developing quality in services is analysis and measurement. The
SERVQUAL approach is the most common method for measuring service
quality.
Model of Service Quality Gaps
There are seven major gaps in the service quality concept, which are
shown in Figure 1. The model is an extention of Parasuraman et al. (1985).
According to the following explanation (ASI Quality Systems, 1992; Curry,
1999; Luk and Layton, 2002), the three important gaps, which are more
associated with the external customers are Gap1, Gap5 and Gap6; since they
have a direct relationship with customers.
· Gap1: Customers’ expectations versus management perceptions: as a result
of the lack of a marketing research orientation, inadequate upward
communication and too many layers of management.
· Gap2: Management perceptions versus service specifications: as a result of
inadequate commitment to service quality, a perception of unfeasibility,
inadequate task standardisation and an absence of goal setting.
· Gap3: Service specifications versus service delivery: as a result of role
ambiguity and conflict, poor employee-job fit and poor technology-job fit,
inappropriate supervisory control systems, lack of perceived control and lack of
teamwork.
· Gap4: Service delivery versus external communication: as a result of
inadequate horizontal communications and propensity to over-promise.
· Gap5: The discrepancy between customer expectations and their
perceptions of the service
delivered: as a result of the influences exerted from the customer side and the
shortfalls (gaps) on the part of the service provider. In this case, customer
expectations are influenced by the extent of personal needs, word of mouth
recommendation and past service experiences.
· Gap6: The discrepancy between customer expectations and employees’
perceptions: as a result of the differences in the understanding of customer
expectations by front-line service providers.
· Gap7: The discrepancy between employee’s perceptions and management
perceptions: as a result of the differences in the understanding of customer
expectations between managers and service providers.Figure 1. Model of
service quality gaps (Parasuraman et al., 1985; Curry, 1999; Luk and Layton,
2002) According to Brown and Bond (1995), "the gap model is one of the best
received and most heuristically valuable contributions to the services literature".
The model identifies seven key discrepancies or gaps relating to managerial
perceptions of service quality, and tasks associated with service delivery to
customers. The first six gaps (Gap 1, Gap 2, Gap 3, Gap 4, Gap 6 and Gap 7) are
identified as functions of the way in which service is delivered, whereas Gap 5
pertains to the customer and as such is considered to be the true measure of
service quality. The Gap on which the SERVQUAL methodology has influence
is Gap 5. In the following, the SERVQUAL approach is demonstrated.
SERVQUAL methodology
Clearly, from a Best Value perspective the measurement of service
quality in the service sector should take into account customer expectations of
service as well as perceptions of service. However, as Robinson (1999)
concludes: "It is apparent that there is little consensus of opinion and much
disagreement about how to measure service quality". One service quality
measurement model that has been extensively applied is the SERVQUAL model
developed by Parasuraman. SERVQUAL as the most often used approach for
measuring service quality has been to compare customers' expectations before a
service encounter and their perceptions of the actual service delivered
(Gronroos, 1982; Lewis and Booms, 1983; Parasuraman et al., 1985). The
SERVQUAL instrument has been the predominant method used to measure
consumers’ perceptions of service quality. It has five generic dimensions or
factors and are stated as follows (van Iwaarden et al., 2003):
(1) Tangibles. Physical facilities, equipment and appearance of personnel.
(2) Reliability. Ability to perform the promised service dependably and
accurately.
(3) Responsiveness. Willingness to help customers and provide prompt service.
(4) Assurance (including competence, courtesy, credibility and security).
Knowledge and courtesy of employees and their ability to inspire trust and
confidence.
(5) Empathy (including access, communication, understanding the customer).
Caring and individualized attention that the firm provides to its customers.
In the SERVQUAL instrument, 22 statements measure the performance
across these five dimensions, using a seven point likert scale measuring both
customer expectations and perceptions (Gabbie and O'neill, 1996). It is
important to note that without adequate information on both the quality of
services expected and perceptions of services received then feedback from
customer surveys can be highly misleading from both a policy and an
operational perspective. In the following, the application of SERVQUAL
approach is more specified with an example in a catering company.
Example
In an investigation conducted by Bryslan and Curry (2001) in a catering
company, a total of 140 questionnaires were distributed to all of the previous
year’s customers and 52 useable questionnaires were returned, resulting in a 37
per cent response rate. As can be seen from Table I, all questionnaire responses
were negative and an overall departmental weighted SERVQUAL score of – 1.6
was recorded, indicating a significant shortfall in meeting customer expectations
across all service areas and dimensions. The summary scores for each dimension
are shown in Table I, with the weighted average scores per dimension having
been totalled to achieve the overall SERVQUAL score. As can be seen from
Table I, the highest gap scores were for Reliability and Responsiveness; this is
real cause for concern and provides a definite staring point for service
improvements. As can be seen from the results, the customer expects most from
the Reliability dimension of the catering service. The relatively low importance
of Tangibles could be attributable to the fact that customers are aware of the
financial constraints which are typical in the local authority funding context, and
simply do not expect much when it comes to aesthetics; instead, they attach
more importance to the delivery aspects of the service. Customers allocated to
Assurance the lowest weighting, indicating it to be of least importance to them,
yet they expect most from this service dimension. This apparent anomaly is
probably due to the fact that customers expect staff to be knowledgeable about
the service and therefore they can see no reason for this dimension not to be
achieved. It is assumed that for this reason, customers have weighted this
dimension lowest.
Discussion
The research on measuring service quality has focused primarily on how
to meet or exceed the external customer’s expectations, and has viewed service
quality as a measure of how the delivered service level matches consumer’s
expectations. These perspectives can also be applied to the employees of a firm
and in this case, other major gaps could be closed in the service quality gaps
model (Kang et al., 2002).
The concept of measuring the difference between expectations and
perceptions in the form of the SERVQUAL gap score proved very useful for
assessing levels of service quality. Parasuraman et al.,argue that, with minor
modification, SERVQUAL can be adapted to any service organisation. They
further argue that information on service quality gaps can help managers
diagnose where performance improvement can best be targeted. The largest
negative gaps, combined with assessment of where expectations are highest,
facilitates prioritisation of performance improvement. Equally, if gap scores in
some aspects of service do turn out to be positive, implying expectations are
actually not just being met but exceeded, then this allows managers to review
whether they may be "over-supplying" this particular feature of the service and
whether there is potential for re-deployment of resources into features which are
underperforming.
It seems that in almost all the existing resources, the SERVQUAL
approach has been used only for closing Gap 5. However, its application could
also be extended to the analysis of other gaps. It is important to note that
SERVQUAL is only one of the instruments used in service quality analysis and
there are different approaches which might be stronger in closing gaps.
SERVQUAL has been extensively criticised on both theoretical and operational
grounds (see Buttle, 1996 and Asubonteng et al., 1996), although Asubonteng et
al. (1996) conclude that: "Until a better but equally simple model emerges,
SERVQUAL will predominate as a service quality measure". It is also evident
that SERVQUAL by itself, useful though it may be to a service manager, will
not give a complete picture of needs, expectations and perceptions in a service
organization context. As Gaster (1995) comments, "because service provision is
complex, it is not simply a matter of meeting expressed needs, but of finding
out unexpressed needs, setting priorities, allocating resources and publicly
justifying and accounting for what has been done". Service organizations are
responsible and accountable to citizens and communities as well as to customers
and service users. There are wider service organization agendas than simply
service quality: improving access to existing services; equity and equality of
service provision; providing efficient and effective services within political as
well as resource constraints. The definition of service quality therefore takes on
a wider meaning and accordingly its measurement becomes both more complex
and more difficult.
Besides the discussed weaknesses, a particular advantage of
SERVQUAL is that it is a tried and tested instrument which can be used
comparatively for benchmarking purposes (Brysland and Curry, 2001).
SERVQUAL does, however, benefit from being a statistically valid instrument
as a result of extensive field testing and refinement. It therefore escapes the
pitfall of being perceived by service users and providers as "something that has
been invented off the top of the head" or a questionnaire that has been skewed to
elicit certain types of response. As a generic and universally-applicable
instrument, SERVQUAL can also be administered on a repeated, regular basis
and used for comparative benchmarking purposes. To appreciate more fully the
benefits of using SERVQUAL, surveys should be conducted every year, for the
following reasons:
- to allow yearly comparisons;
- to determine how service improvements have affected customers’ perceptions
and expectations of the service over time; and
- to determine the effectiveness of service development and improvement
initiatives in targeted dimensions.
It is important to note that the measurement systems themselves are often
inappropriate because the system designers do not know enough about what is to
be measured. Measuring customer perceptions of service may increase
expectations and measuring too often may well result in customers losing their
motivation to answer correctly. Finally, there is no point in measuring service
quality if one is not willing to take appropriate action on the findings.
Service quality and its model of gaps were reviewed. SERVQUAL
methodology as an analytical approach for evaluating the difference between
customers' expectations and perceptions of quality was also studied.
While this research provides some perspectives to the field of service
quality, it is believed that there are a number of things that should be done to
confirm the demonstrated methodologies as well as to expand the use of
SERVQUAL in design and improvement of quality services.
Just as the SERVQUAL instrument is extensively used to assess
external service quality, the instrument can also be modified to assess the quality
of the internal service provided by departments and divisions within a company
to employees in other departments and divisions. The results of the current study
illustrate that organizations can at least assess five dimensions of service quality
to ascertain the level of services provided, and to determine which dimensions
need improvement.
In order to improve service quality, it is necessary to contact employees
regularly and assess their service experiences. Like the external customer, an
internal customer too considers categories of service attributes, such as
reliability and responsiveness, in judging the quality of the internal service. With
the knowledge of the internal service quality dimensions, the service
organizations can then judge how well the organization or employees performed
on each dimension and managers could identify the weakness in order to make
improvements.
Future research should seek to examine the use of SERVQUAL to close
other service quality gaps for different types of organizations. Also, an
important issue for future research is about the relationship between internal
service quality and external customer satisfaction as well as other constructs,
such as employee service orientation, and external service quality.
In conclusion, knowing how customers perceive the service quality and
being able to measure service quality can benefit industry professionals in
quantitative and qualitative ways. The measurement of service quality can
provide specific data that can be used in quality management; hence, service
organizations would be able to monitor and maintain quality service. Assessing
service quality and better understanding how various dimensions affect overall
service quality would enable organizations to efficiently design the service
delivery process. By identifying strengths and weaknesses pertaining to the
dimensions of service quality organizations can better allocate resources to
provide better service and ultimately better service to external customers.
Questions for discussion
1. Explain the environment of marketing in which marketing operates.
2. How does a firm’s corporate culture influence the performance of its
marketing personnel?
3. How does social class affect an individual’s life-style and purchase ?
4. Why demographic data alone frequently insufficient for marketing
decisions?
5. Explain the consumer decision making process.
6. Explain SERVQUAL model.
Unit – III
Marketing Mix
Marketing is a process of perceiving, understanding, stimulating and
satisfying the needs of specially selected target markets by channelling an
organization’s resources to meet those needs. Marketing is thus a process of
matching an organizations resource to the needs of the market.
Marketing mix is the important internal elements or ingredients that
make up an organization’s marketing programme. The marketing mix is
one of the most universal concepts which has been developed in marketing.
The marketing mix concept is well-established tool used as a
structure by marketers. It consists of the various elements of a marketing
programme, which need to be considered in order to successfully
implement the marketing strategy and positioning in the company’s
markets. The discipline of considering the integration of the elements of the
marketing mix, as well as individual various elements, helps ensure that
there is consistency within the marketing strategy as a whole.
Traditionally, most marketers have considered four basic
components or elements of a marketing mix: product, price, promotion and
place. However, within services marketing, it is useful to extend this list to
include other key ingredients. A consideration of each element of the
marketing mix and how they fit together forms the basis of a marketing
programme.
Essentially the marketing mix represents the factors, which need to
be considered when determining a service firm’s marketing strategy. The
starting point for making any decisions about marketing mix depends both
on how the service is to be positioned and the market segments to be
addressed. The advantage of using a marketing mix frame works that it
permits the fit between the various elements to be considered. Each element
within the marketing mix has an impact on all the other elements.
Figure 3.1 Expanded marketing mix for services
Custo
mer
service
Place People
Product
Promot Price
ion
Product
A product is anything that satisfies a need or want and can be
offered in an exchange. A product can be a good, service, idea, or
combination of all three. A services is intangible yet provides direct benefits
to consumers. The product is a key variable in the marketing mix -
promotion, distribution and price decisions must be coordinated with
product decisions. If a company’s products do not meet the desires and
needs of its customers, the company will fail. By identifying consumer needs
and wants and developing products that satisfy them, company are more
likely to succeed.
Services cannot be defined in terms of their physical attributes
because they are intangible. It is often difficult, then, for consumers to
understand service offerings and to evaluate possible service alternatives.
Tangible elements-facilities, employees, communications-associated with a
service help to form the product and are often the only features of a service
that can be viewed or evaluated prior to purchase. That is way marketers
should pay close attention to these tangible elements and ensure that they
are consistent with the selected image of the service product. Marketers
should also focus on the benefits the customer is buying rather than on the
service itself.
Consumers often equate service products with the provider of the
service. This is especially true for labour-based services. Consider a bank,
for instance. Money a tangible good of the bank, is an undifferentiated
product-it is the same at all banks. But a teller – who may be competent and
accommodating or slow and irritable-is the service provided by the bank.
Because service personnel like tellers are perceived as the service and
because they are inconsistent in their behaviour, it is essential that
marketers carefully select, train, motivate, and control these contact people.
Service providers are selling long-term relationships as well as providing a
service.
Selecting a name for a service organization can be critical because,
in services, the company name is the service. A well chosen name can give a
company a decided marketing edge over competitors by providing strong
brand identity. Good service names should be distinctive relevant,
memorable, and flexible.
Price
Price is the “Something of value” in an exchange. Consumer
exchange something value. Price places a value on a good service. Many
words are substitutes for the term price including admission fee,
membership fee, rate, tuition, service charge, donation, rent, salary,
interest, premium, fare, dues. Price is probably the most flexible element of
marketing mix. Organisation can adjust prices much more easily than they
can modify the product, change the promotional program, a redesign the
distribution system. Price is also the only marketing mix variable that
relates directly to revenue. Price also has a psychological impact on
customers.
The intangible nature of services makes establishing prices difficult.
The price of physical goods can be based on the cost of production
(materials, labour, and over head). However, determining the cost of
producing service for the purpose of setting a price is more complicated.
Because of the intangible nature of services, price may function as an
important cue to consumers. When services-particularly labour based
services-are equivalent, price may important in selecting a service provider.
A consumer seeking help with financial planning, for example, may
believe that a financial counsellor who charges more than others is more
qualified and, thus, may choose the adviser with the highest fee. Marketing
two or more services together as a single package for a special price is a
practice called bundling. The use of bundling to simulate demand for
services has been expanding in recent years.
Likewise, banks offer special programs in which customers receive
credit cards travellers checks, and other financial services. Pricing can also
be used to smooth fluctuations in demand for services. A service provider
may lower prices to help stimulate demand during slow periods and raise
prices during peak periods to discourage demand.
Place
It refers to distribution. It is a marketing activities that makes
product available to consumers at the right time and in convenient location.
The location and channels used to supply services to target customers are
two key decision areas. The location and channel decisions involve
considering how to deliver the service to the customer and where this
should take place. Service marketers should seek to develop appropriate
service delivery approaches that yield competitive advantage for their
firms.
Most services are limited to direct channels of distribution because
of the inseparability of production and consumption. However, some types
of services to make use of marketing intermediaries. Automatic teller
machines(ATMs) serve as electronic intermediaries for financial services.
Master Card and VISA credit cards have enabled banks to extend their
credit services to consumers in widely dispersed geographic areas.
The distribution of services is closely linked to product development.
To provide tangibility, a marketer may develop a physical symbol of the
service. If a physical symbol can be created, then the service can be
separated from the provider, suggesting that direct sale is not the only
distribution alternative. For instance, bank credit cards, which are physical
symbols of credit, enable retailers to act as indirect intermediaries in the
distribution of an intangible service-credit. Additionally, extending a line of
credit to a consumer allows him or her to store the intangible service of
credit.
Promotion
Promotion refers to marketing activities used to communicate to
target positive, persuasive information about an organization, its products
and activities to directly or indirectly expedite exchanges. The promotion
elements play a vital role in helping communicate the positioning of the
services to customers and other of the key relationship markets. The
promotion of services include the following elements, advertising, personal
selling, sales promotion, public relation, word of mouth and direct mail.
Because services are intangible-dominant products, they are difficult
to advertise. Something intangible is not easily depicted in advertising,
whether the medium is print, television, or radio. Therefore, advertising of
services should emphasize tangible cues, or symbols, of the services that are
more easily perceived and understood by consumers.
Advertising can also be used to facilitate internal marketing. A
service provider’s employees are an important secondary audience for
services advertising.
Personal selling can play a powerful role in promoting services
because it enables consumers and sales people to interact. If properly
trained, sales people can used this interaction to reduced consumer
uncertainty, give reassurance, reduce dissonance, and promote the
reputation of the organization. Once again, careful training and
management of customers contact personnel is crucial to the success of
service provider.
Sales promotions are more difficult to implement for services than
for goods. Promotion methods such as point-of-purchase displays and free
sample are generally impossible to use. Intangible product like health care
and accounting services cannot be displayed, and if free samples are used,
the firm has to give away the entire product. Coupons, rebates, contests,
and free first time visits to the services facilities are feasible sales promotion
tools for some service firms.
Finally, services firms usually rely more heavily on publicity than do
firms marketing goods. This is especially true of non-profit organizations,
which cannot afford extensive advertising. Another reason that services
firms rely on publicity is because it is viewed as being more objective than
advertising.
People in services
The success of marketing a service is tied closely to the selection,
training, motivation and management of people. There are many examples
of services failing or succeeding as a consequence of the ineffective or
effective management of people.
The importance of people within the marketing of services has led to
great interest in internal marketing. This recognizes the importance of
attracting, motivating, training, and retaining quality employees by
developing jobs to satisfy individual needs. Internal marketing aims to
encourage effective behaviour by staff which will attract to work in those
companies which are seen to be good employers.
Attempts to view the employees of an organization as an element of a
service organization’s marketing mix have been notably absent from
academic marketing literature until recently. While the expression our
employees are our greatest asset is increasingly being heard among
companies, it is clear that this statement is often a platitude. By recognizing
the contribution people make to acquiring and keeping customers within
the overall marketing mix, the service company’s competitive performance
will be substantially enhanced.
Differing roles of people
An essential aspect of viewing people as an element of the marketing
mix is to recognize the different roles in which people affect both the
marketing task and customer contact. Judd has developed a categorization
scheme based on the degree of frequency of customer contact and the extent
to which staff are involved with conventional marketing activities. This
categorization results in four groups : contractors, modifiers, influencers
and isolateds
• Contactors have frequent or regular customer contact and are
typically heavily involved with conventional marketing activities.
They hold a range of positions in service firms including selling and
customer service roles. Whether they are involved in planning or
execution of marketing strategy they need to be well versed in the
marketing strategies of the firm. They should be well trained,
prepared and motivated to serve the customers on a day – today
basis in a responsive manner. They should be recruited based on
their potential to be responsive to customer needs and be evaluated
and rewarded on this basis.
• Modifiers are people such as receptionists, credit department and
switchboard personnel; while they are not directly involved with
conventional marketing activities to a great degree, they nevertheless
have frequent customer contact. As such they need to have a clear
view of the organization’s marketing strategy and the role that they
can play in being responsive to customers’ needs. They have a vital
role to play especially, but not exclusively, in service businesses.
Modifiers need to develop high levels of customer relationship skills.
Training and monitoring of performance are especially important
here.
• Influencers, while involved with the traditional elements of the
marketing mix, have infrequent or no customer contact. However,
they are very much part of the implementation of the organization’s
marketing strategy. They include those with roles in product
development, market research, etc. In requirement of influencers
people with the potential to develop a sense of customer
responsiveness should be pursued. Influencers should be evaluated
and rewarded according to customer-oriented performance
standards and opportunities to enhance the level of customer contact
should be programmed into their activities.
• Isolateds perform various support functions and have neither
frequent customer contact nor a great deal to do with the
conventional marketing activities. However, as support people their
activities critically affect performance of the organization’s
activities. Staff falling within this category include purchasing
department, personnel and data processing. Such staff need to be
sensitive to the fact that internal customers as well as external
customers have needs which must be satisfied. They need to
understand the company’s overall marketing strategy and how their
functions contribute to the quality of delivered value to the
customer.
This suggests that people form an important part of the differentiation
in a service organization which can create added value for the customer. By
viewing people as a separate element of the marketing mix, the appropriate
level of attention can be directed to maximizing the impact of their activities
and motivating and rewarding them to make the desired contribution.
Process
The processes by which services are created and delivered to the
customer is a major factor within the services marketing mix as services
customers will often perceive the service delivery system as part of the
service itself. Thus decisions on operations management are of great
importance to the success of the marketing of the service. In fact,
continuous coordination between marketing and operations is essential to
success in most service business.
All work activity is process. Processes involve the procedures, tasks
schedules, mechanisms, activities and routines by which a product or
service is delivered to the customer. It involves policy decisions about
customer involvement and employee discretion. Identification of process
management as a separate activity is a prerequisite of service quality
improvement. The importance of this element is especially highlighted in
service business where inventories cannot be stored. Banks provide a good
example of this. By reconfiguring the way they deliver service through the
introduction of automatic teller machines (ATMs) Banks have been able to
free staff to handle more complex customer needs by diverting cash only
customers to the ATMs.
This suggests that close cooperation is needed between the
marketing and operations staff who are involved in process management.
By identifying processes as a separate marketing mix element, we recognize
its importance to service quality.
The immediacy of production of services can be used to advantage in
the tailoring of the services product to meet customer needs.
Decision–making processes are also of relevance. Some service
providers give their service deliverers the autonomy to make decisions. For
example, the billing of legal services is largely within the hands of the
principal working on the case. A law firm will have charge out rates for
individuals within the firm but these will vary according to the real and
perceived complexity of the case where value based billing is used.
It can be seen from the above examples that processes of delivery
and decision making are of great significance for the successful marketing
of a service.
The choice of process can therefore be a source of competitive
advantage for a services company.
In reviewing the role of processes two issues are worthy of particular
attention: how process can be seen as structural elements that can be
altered to help achieve positioning strategy; and how marketing and
operations should be managed to achieve synergy between them.
Processes can be considered in two ways: in terms of complexity and
in terms of divergence. Complexity is concerned with the nature of the steps
and sequences that constitute the process, while divergence refers to the
executional latitude or variability of the steps and sequences.
Services processes can be analysed according to their complexity and
divergence. Thus the keeping of account books for a corner shop is
relatively low in divergence and complexity, hotel services may be low in
divergence but in high complexity, and a general surgeon’s work is high in
both complexity and divergence.
Process can be changed in terms of complexity and divergence to
reinforce the positioning or establish a new positioning. The four options
are as follows:
• Reduced divergence. This tends to reduce costs, improve
productivity and make distribution easier. It can also produce more
uniform service quality and improved service availability. How
ever, negative effects may include a perception of limited choice
and a rejection of the highly standardized service.
• Increased divergence. This involves greater customisation and
flexibility which may command higher prices. This approach
suggests a niche positioning strategy based less on volume and more
on margins.
• Reduced complexity. This usually means a specialization strategy.
Steps and activities are omitted from the service process and this
tends to make distribution and control easier.
• Increased complexity. Greater complexity is usually a strategy to
gain higher levels of penetration in a market by adding more
services. supermarkets, banks and building societies tend to follow
this approach.
Customer service
A major differentiating factor for services companies is the quality
of customer service. Customers are becoming more sophisticated in their
requirements and are increasingly demanding higher standards of service.
Many major services companies have woken up to the need to improve
customer service in order to compete in today’s highly competitive service
environment.
In the marketing literature customer service is often seen to be part
of the ‘place’ marketing mix element and to be concerned with the
distribution and logistics component of that element. This view of customer
service as the outcome of the distribution and logistics functions seeks to
explain its significance in terms of the way in which services are delivered
and the extent to which customers are satisfied, especially in the context of
reliability and speed of delivery.
We consider, however, that several arguments support the choice of
customer service as a broader and separate element of the marketing mix.
These include the following:
• Changing customer expectations. In almost every market the
customer is now more demanding and more sophisticated than he or
she was, say, thirty years ago.
• The increased importance of customer service. With changing
customer expectations, competitors are seeing customer service as a
competitive weapon with which to differentiate their sales. The issue
and importance of customer service has been commented on by
many writers.
• The need for a relationship strategy. To ensure that a customer service
strategy that will create a value proposition for customers is
formulated, implemented and controlled it is necessary to give it a
central role and not one that is subsumed in the various elements of
the marketing mix.
A wider view of customer service
Companies often have different perspectives on customer service.
Studies have shown that a range of views exists as to the definition of
customer service. These include, in a service context:
• All the activities required to accept, process, deliver and fulfil
customer orders and to follow up on any activity that has gone
wrong.
• Timeliness and reliability of delivering products and services to
customers in accordance with their expectations.
• A complex of activities involving all areas of the business which
combine to deliver the company’s products and services in a fashion
that is perceived as satisfactory by the customer and which advances
the company’s objectives.
• Total order entry and all communications with customers, all
invoicing and total control of defects.
• Timely and accurate delivery of products and services ordered by
customers with accurate follow up and enquiry response including
timely delivery of invoice.
Developing a marketing mix strategy
We have now considered seven elements of the services marketing
mix. Each of these marketing mix elements interact with each other and
they should be developed so that they are mutually supportive in obtaining
the best possible match between the internal and external environments of
the organization. In developing a marketing mix strategy service marketers
need to consider the relationships between the elements of the mix.
It has been pointed out that there are three degrees of interaction between the
marketing mix elements.
• Consistency, where there is a logical and useful fit between two or more
elements of the marketing mix .
• Integration, which involves an active harmonious interaction between the
elements of the mix.
• Leverage, which involves a more sophisticated approach and is concerned
with using each element to best advantage in support of the total marketing
mix.
Thus effective relationship marketing is based on the choice and design of
marketing mix elements that are mutually supportive and leveraged together so
that synergy is achieved. This implies that people, processes and customer
service should be seen as crucial additional elements of services marketing mix.
Each of the elements of the marketing mix and their sub elements need
to focus on supporting each other in terms of consistency, integration and
leverage, reinforcing the positioning and delivery of the service quality required
by the market segment (or segments) that are targeted.
In developing a marketing mix strategy we need to consider the
impact of each marketing mix element on the market segments selected.
This implies ensuring that there is:
• A fit between the marketing mix and each target segment.
• A fit between the marketing mix and the company's strategic capabilities,
emphasizing its strengths and minimizing the impact of its weaknesses.
• A recognition of competitors' capabilities, which involves evading their
strengths and capitalizing on their weaknesses.
To achieve this an effective marketing plan should outline how the
marketing mix strategy is to be developed and implemented. This involves
organizing marketing resources, deciding levels of marketing expenditure
and determining the expected results.
NEW FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Today the importance of financial services is gaining

momentum all
over the world. In these days of complex finance,
people expect a Financial
Service Company to play a very dynamic role not only
as a provider of
finance but also as a departmental store of finance.
With the injection of the
economic liberalisation policy into our economy and
opening of the
economy to multinationals, the free market concept
has assumed much
significance. As a result, the clients both corporates
and individuals are
exposed to the phenomena of volatility and
uncertainty and hence they
except the financial service company to innovate new
products and services
so as to meet their varied requirements.
Many financial intermediaries including banks have
already started
expending their activities in the financial services
sector by offering a
variety of new products. As a result, sophistication
and innovations have
appeared in the arena of financial intermediations.
Some of them are
briefly discussed below:
(i) Merchant banking : Merchant banking may be defined
as, ‘an institution
which covers a wide range of activities such as
management of customer
services, portfolio management, credit syndication,
acceptance credit,
counselling, insurance etc.
The Notification of theMinistry of Finance defines a
merchant
banker as, “ any person who is engaged in the
business of issue
management either by making arrangements
regarding selling, buying or
subscribing to the securities as manager, consultant,
advisor or rendering
corporate advisory service in relation to such issue
management.
A merchant banker is a financial intermediary who
helps to
transfer capital from those who possess it to those
who need it. Merchant
banking includes a wide range of activities such as
management of
customers securities, portfolio management, project
counselling and
appraisal, underwriting of shares and debentures,
loan syndication, acting
as banker for the refund orders, handling interest and
dividend warrants
etc. Thus, a merchant banker renders a host of
services to corporate and
thus promotes industrial development in the country.
(ii) Loan Syndication : This is more or less similar to
‘consortium financing’.
But,this work is taken up by the merchant banker as a
lead-manager. It
refers to a loan arranged by a bank called lead
manager for a borrower
who is usually a large corporate customer or a
Government Department.
The other banks who are willing to lend can
participate in the loan by
contributing an amount suitable to their own lending
policies. Since a single
bank cannot provide such a huge sum as loan, a
number of banks join
together and form a syndicate. It also enables the
members of the syndicate
to share the credit risk associated with a particular
loan among themselves.
(iii) Leasing : Leasing, as financing concept, is an
arrangement between
two parties, the leasing company or lessor and the
user or lessee, whereby
the former arranges to buy capital equipment for the
use of the latter for
an agreed period of time in return for the payment of
rent. The rentals are
predetermined and payable at fixed intervals of time,
according to the
mutual convenience of both the parties. However, the
lessor remains the
owner of the equipment over the primary period.
A lease is an agreement under which a company or a
firm, acquires
a right to make use of a capital asset like machinery,
on payment of a
prescribed fee called ‘rental charges”. The lessee
cannot acquire any
ownership to the asset, but he can use it and have
full control over it. He is
expected to pay for all maintenance charges and
repairing and operating
costs. In countries like the U.S.A., the U.K and Japan
equipment leasing is
very popular and nearly 25%of plant and equipment is
being financed by
leasing companies. In India also, many financial
companies have started
equipment leasing business. Commercial banks have
also been permitted to
carry on this business by forming subsidiary
companies.
(iv) Mutual Funds:
A mutual fund collects the savings from small
investors, invest
them in Government and other corporate securities
and earn income
through interest and dividend, besides capital gains.
It works on the
principle of ‘small drops of water make a big ocean’.
A mutual fund is nothing but a form of collective
investment. It is formed
by the coming together of a number of investors who
transfer their surplus
funds to a professionally qualified organisation to
manage it.
.
A mutual fund refers to a fund raised by a financial
service company
by pooling the savings of the public. It is invested in a
diversified portfolio
with a view to spreading and minimising risk. The
fund provides
investment avenue for small investors who cannot
participate in the equities
of big companies. It ensures low risks, steady returns,
high liquidity and
better capital appreciation in the long run.
(v) Factoring: factoring is a method of financing whereby a
company sells its
trade debts at a discount to a financial institution. In other
words, factoring is a
continuous arrangement between a financial institution,
(namely the factor) and
a company (namely the client), which sells goods and
services to trade
customers on credit. As per this arrangement, the factor
purchases the client’s
trade debts including accounts receivables either with or
without resource to the
client, and thus, exercises control over the credit extended
to the customers and
administers the sales ledger of his client.
Factoring refers to the process of managing the sales ledger
of a client by
a financial service company. In other words, it is an
arrangement under which a
financial intermediary assumes the credit risk in the
collection of book debts for
its clients. The entire responsibility of collecting the book
debts passes on to the
factor. His services can be compared to a del credre agent
who undertakes to
collect debts. But, a factor provides credit information,
collects debts, monitors
the sales ledger and provides finance against debts. Thus,
he provides a number
of services apart from financing.
(vi) Forfaiting: Forfaiting has been defined as "the non-
recourse purchase by a
bank or any other financial institution, of receivables arising
from an export of
goods and services.” Forfaiting is a technique by which a
forfaitor (financing
agency) discounts an export bill and pays ready cash to the
exporter who can
concentrate on the export front without bothering about
collection of export
bills. The forfaitor does so without any recourse to the
exporter and the exporter
is protected against the risk of non-payment of debts by the
importers.
(vii) Venture capital: The term 'Venture Capital' is
understood in many ways.
In a narrow sense, it refers to, investment in new and untried
enterprises that are
lacking a stable record of growth.
In a broader sense, venture capital refers to the
commitment of
capital as shareholding, for the formulation and
setting up of small firms
specialising in new ideas or new technologies. It is
not merely an injection of
funds into a new firm, it is a simultaneous input of
skill needed to set up the
firm, design its marketing strategy and organise and
manage it. It is an
association with successive stages of firm's
development with distinctive
types of financing appropriate to each stage of
development.
A Venture capital is another method of financing in the form
of equity
participation. A venture capitalist finances a project based
on the potentialities
of a new innovative project. It is in contrast to the
conventional "security based
financing". Much thrust is given to new ideas or
technological innovations.
Finance is being provided not only for 'start-up capital' but
also for 'development
capital' by the financial intermediary.
(viii) Custodial Services: It is yet another line of activity
which has gained
importance, of late. Under this, a financial
intermediary mainly provides
services to clients, particularly to foreign investors,
for a prescribed fee.
Custodial services provide agency services like safe
keeping of shares and
debentures, collection of interest and dividend and
reporting of matters on
corporate developments and corporate securities to
foreign investors.
(ix) Corporate Advisory Services: Financial intermediaries
particularly
banks have set up corporate advisory service
branches to render services
exclusively to their corporate customers. For
instance, some banks have
extended computer terminals to their corporate
customers so that they can
transact some of their important banking transactions
by sitting in their
own office. As new avenues of finance like Euro loans,
GDRs etc. are
available to corporate customers; this service is of
immense help to the
customers.
x) Securitisation : Securitisation of debt or asset refers to
the process of
liquidating the, illiquid and long term assets like loans and
receivables of
financial institutions like banks by issuing marketable
securities against them. In
other words, it is a technique by which a long term, non-
negotiable and high
valued financial asset like hire purchase is converted into
securities of small
values which can be tradable in the market just like shares.
Securitisation is a technique whereby a financial company
converts its
ill-liquid, non-negotiable and high value financial assets into
securities of small
value which are made tradable and transferable. A financial
institution might
have a lot of its assets blocked up in assets like real estate,
machinery etc. which
are long term in nature and which are non-negotiable. In
such cases,
securitisation would help the financial institution to raise
cash against such
assets by means of issuing securities of small values to the
public. Like any
other security, they can be traded in the market. It is best
suited to housing
finance companies whose loans are always long term in
nature and their money
in locked up for a considerable long period in real estates.
Securitisation is the
only answer to convert these ill-liquid assets into liquid
assets.
(xi) Derivative Security: A derivative security is a security
whose value
depends upon the values of other basic variables backing
the security. In most
cases, these variables are nothing but the prices of traded
securities. A derivative
security is basically used as a risk management tool and it is
resorted to cover
the risks due to price fluctuations by the investment
manager. Just like a forward
contract which is a derivative of a spot contract, a derivative
security is derived
from other trading securities backing it. Naturally the value
of a derivative
security depends upon the values of the hacking securities.
Derivative helps to
break the risks into various components such as credit risk,
interest rates risk,
exchange rates risk and so on. It enables the various risk
components to be
identified precisely and priced them and even traded them if
necessary.
Financial intermediaries can go for derivatives since they will
have greater
importance in the near future. In India some forms of
derivatives are in
operation. Example: Forwards in forex market.)
(xiii) Lines of Credit (LOC): It is an innovative funding
mechanism for the
import of goods and services on deferred payment terms.
LOC is an
arrangement of a financing institution/bank of one country
with another
institution/bank/agent to support the export of goods and
services so as to enable
the importers to import on deferred payment terms. This
may be backed by a
guarantee furnished by the institution/bank in the importing
country. The LOC
helps the exporters to get payment immediately as soon as
the goods are
shipped, since, the funds would be paid out of the pool
account with the
financing agency and it would be debited to the account of
the borrower
agency/importer whose contract for availing the facility is
already approved by
the financing agency on the recommendation of the
overseas institution.
(i) Commercial Paper: A commercial paper is an
unsecured promissory note
issued with a fixed maturity by a company approved by RBI,
negotiable by
endorsement and delivery issued in bearer form and issued
at such discount on
the face value as may be determined by the issuing
company.
A commercial paper is a short-term negotiable money
market instrument.
It has the character of an unsecured promissory note with a
fixed maturity of 3
to 6 months. Banking and non-banking companies can issue
this for raising their
short-term debt. It also carries an attractive rate of interest.
Commercial papers
are sold at a discount from their face value and redeemed at
their face value.
Since its denomination is very high, it is suitable only to
institutional investors
and companies.
ii) Treasury Bills: Treasury bills are short-term promissory
notes issued by the
Government of India at a discount generally with maturities
for 90 days. They
are issued when the Government needs to borrow funds.
A treasury bill is also a money market instrument
issued by the
Central Government. It is also issued at a discount
and redeemed at par.
Recently, the Government has come out with short-
term treasury bills of
182-day bills and 364-day bills.
(iii) Certificates of deposit: Certificate of Deposits are
short term deposit
instruments issued by banks and financial institutions to
raise large sums of
money.
The scheduled commercial banks have been
permitted to issue
certificate of deposit without any regulation on
inertest rates. This is also a
money market instrument and unlike a fixed deposit
receipt, it is a
negotiable instrument and hence it offers maximum
liquidity. As such, it
has a secondary market too. Since the denomination
is very high, it is
suitable to mainly institutional investors and
companies.
iv) Inter-bank Participations (IBPs): The scheme of inter-
bank participation is
confined to scheduled banks only for a period ranging
between 91 days to 180
days. This may be 'with risk' participation or ‘without risk'
participation.
However, only a few banks have so far issued IBPs, carrying
an interest rate
ranging between 14 and 17 per cent per annum, this is also
a money market
instrument.
v) Zero interest convertible debenture/bonds: As the
very name suggests,
these instruments carry no interest till the time of
conversion which after a fixed
period of time. These instruments are converted into equity
shares after a period
of time.
vii) Index-linked guilt bonds: These are instruments
having a fixed maturity.
Their maturity value is linked to the index prevailing as on
the date of maturity.
Hence, they are inflation-free instruments.
(viii) Option bonds: These bonds may be cumulative or
non- cumulative as per
the option of the holder of the bonds. In the case of
cumulative bonds, interest is
accumulated and is payable only on maturity. But, in the
case of non-cumulative
bond, the interest is paid periodically. This option has to be
exercised by the
prospective investor at the time of investment.
(ix) Secured Premium Notes: These are instruments,
which carry no interest
for three years. In other words, the interest will be
paid only after 3 years,
and hence, companies with high capital-intensive
investments can resort to
this type of financing.
(x) Medium term Debentures: Generally, debentures are
repayable only after a
long period. But, these debentures have a medium term
maturity. Since they are
secured and negotiable, they are highly liquid. These types
of debt instruments
are very popular in Germany.
(xi) Variable rate debentures: Variable rate debentures
are debt instruments.
They carry a compound rate of interest, but this rate of
interest is not a fixed
one. It varies from time to time in accordance with some pre-
determined
formula as we adopt in the case of Dearness Allowance
calculations.
(xii) Non-convertible Debentures with equity
warrants: Generally
debentures are redeemed on the date of maturity. But, these
debentures are
redeemed in full at a premium in installments as in the case
of anticipated
insurance policies. The installments may be paid at the end
of 5th, 6th, 7th and
8th year from the date of allotment.
xiv) Cumulative convertible preference shares: These
instruments along with
capital and accumulated dividend must be
compulsorily converted into
equity shares in a period of 3 to 5 years from the date
of their issue,
according to the discretion of the issuing company.
The main object of
introducing it is to offer the investor an assured
minimum return together
with the prospect of equity appreciation. This
instrument is not popular in
India.
(xvii) Easy Exit Bond: As the name indicates, this bond
enables the small
investors to encase the bond at any time after 18 months of
its issue and thereby
paving a way for an easy exit. It has a maturity period of 10
years with a call
option any time after 5 years.
(xviii) Retirement Bond: This type of bond enables an
investor to get an
assured monthly income for a fixed period after the expiry of
the 'wait period’
chosen by him. No payment will be made during the 'wait
period.' The longer
the wait period, the higher will be the monthly income.
Besides these the
investor will also get a lump sum amount on maturity.
(xix) Regular Income Bond: This bond offers an attractive
rate of interest
payable half yearly with the facility of early redemption. The
investor is assured
of a regular and fixed income.
PRODUCT LEVELS
Product is a key element in the market offering. Marketing mix planning
begins with formulating an offering to meet target customers’ need and wants.
The customer will judge the offering by three basic elements: product features
and quality, services mix and quality, and price appropriateness. A product is
anything that can be offered to a market to satisfy a want or needs.
At the time of visualising any product, the marketer thinks of it at four
levels.
Fig-3.2 Product Levels
1. Core benefit level : It is the fundamental service a benefit that the
customer is really buying. For example a hotel guest is “buying rest
and sleep”. A refrigerator offers the benefits of storing, preserving
and cooling a food or similar items.
2. Expected Product: It is the set of attributes and conditions that
buyer normally expect when they purchase this product (e.g) A hotel
guest expect a clean bed, fresh towels and working lamps.
3. Augmented Product: It includes additional services and benefit that
distinguish the companys offer from competitors offer (e.g.) A hotel
can include a remote control television set, fresh flowers, room
service and fine dining.
Potential Product
Augmented Product
Expected Product
Core benefit
4. Potential Product : The Potential Product, which encompasses all
the augmentations and transformations that the product might
ultimately undergo in the future. While the augmented product
describes what is included in the product today, The potential
product points to its possible evolution. The company search
aggressively for new ways to satisfy customers and distinguish their
offer. Example if banking organisation start operation on Sunday or
in night Shift, if they start paying interest on the current account
deposit, the available potentials are tapped.
PRODUCT MIX DECISIONS
A product mix is the set of all products and items that a particular seller
offers for sale to buyers. A Company’s product mix has a certain width, length,
depth and consistency.
Width: The width of product mix refers to how many different product lines
the company carries.
Length: The length of product mix refers to the total number of items in its
product mix.
Depth: The depth of product mix refers to how may variants are offered of each
product in the line.
Consistency: The consistency of the product mix refers to how closely related
the various product lines are in and use, Production requirement, distribution
channels or same other way.
These four dimensions of the product mix provide the handles for
defining the company’s product strategy. The company can expand its business
in four ways. The company can add new product lines, thus widening its
product mix. The company can lengthen each product line. The company can
add more product variants to each product and deepen its product mix. Finally,
the company can pursue more product – line consistency or less, depending
upon whether it wants to acquire a strong reputation in a single field or
participate in several fields.
Product mix planning is largely the responsibility of the company’s
strategic planners.
Product Line
It is a group of products that is closely related because they perform a
similar function, targeted at the same customer groups, and marketed through
the same channels.
1. Line Stretching.
Decisions pertaining to line stretching are taken whenever the
marketer feels he can increase his profits by either adding or dropping items
from the line. It can be upwards, downwards, or both ways.
Downward stretch takes place when the company finds that its
offerings are at the high price end of the market and then stretch their line
downwards. For example, P & G’s Ariel detergent began at premium end and
then the downmarket Ariel bar was introduced to tap the lower segment.
Conversely, upward stretch occurs when a company enters the upper
end through a line extension. The reasons for this may be a higher growth rate,
better margins or simply a wish to be a full line marketer. An example of a
successful upward stretch would be that of Lifebuoy, which started from a
hygienic bath soap for the masses to a premium quality liquid hand wash for the
higher strata of society.
2. Line filling. A product line can also be lengthened by adding more items
within the present product range. There are several reasons for line filling.
• Reaching for incremental profits.
• Trying to satisfy dealers who complain about lost sales because of
missing items on the line.
• Trying to utilise excess capacity.
• Trying to offer a full line of the product.
• Trying to plug holes in the positioning map.
The launch of Cinthol, in different variants is an example of line filling.
Today Cinthol is a lime soap with yellow packaging and a cologne variation
with blue wrapping apart from the initial Cinthol fresh.
The company needs to differentiate each item in the consumer’s mind.
3. Line modernisation.
Even when the product line length is adequate, the line might need to be
modernised. The issue is whether to overhaul the line completely or one at a
time. A piecemeal approach allows the company to see how customers and
dealers react to the new style.
In the rapidly changing market, product modernisation is carried out
continuously. Because competitors are constantly upgrading their options, each
company must redesign their own offering. A company would like to upgrade
customers to higher-valued, higher-priced items. A major issue is the timing of
the product line improvements so that they do not happen too early and damage
the sales of their current product line, or come out too later so that the
competition can establish a strong foothold.
4. Line featuring.
In the case of durable products, marketers at times select one or a few
items to “feature”. The idea is to attract consumers into the showrooms and then
try to get them exposed to other models. At times, the marketer will feature a
high end item to lend prestige to the product line. These products act as
“flagships” to enhance the whole line.
BRANDING
What is Branding
The American Marketing Association defines a Brand as “A brand is a
name , term ,sign, symbol, or design, or combination of them, intended to
identify the goods or services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate
them from those of competitors”
Branding is a process, a tool, a strategy and an orientation.
• Branding is the process by which a marketer tries to build long term
relationship with the customers by learning their needs and wants so
that the offering (brand) could satisfy their mutual aspirations.
• Branding can be viewed as a tool to position a product or a service with a
consistent image of quality and value for money to ensure the
development of a recurring preference by the consumer.
• Branding can be used as a differentiation strategy when the product
cannot be easily distinguished in terms of tangible features.
Brand building is a conscious customer-satisfaction orientation process.
The brand owner tries to retain customers to its fold over their competitors by a
mix of hardware and software because when a customer feels satisfied he/she
develops a kind of loyalty for the same.
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE OF BRANDING
Brand is much more than the name per se or the creation of an external
indication that the product or service has received an organisation’s imprint or
its mark. The strategic relevance and logic of branding outlines.
A Brand Aims to Segment the Market
Brand building is part of a strategy aimed at differentiating the offering
companies try to better fulfil the expectations of specific groups of customers.
The company wants to leave its mark on a given field, and sets its imprint on the
particular offering.
A Brand Starts with a Big Idea
The first task in branding building: defining just what the brand infuses
into the product or service. Branding, however, is not based on what goes on,
but what goes in. The result is an augmented product or service which must be
indicated in one way or the other if it is to be noticed by potential buyers.
A Brand has an Enduring Value
If a brand is merely a label, then such a product would lose its value as
soon as it loses its sign of brand identification. Instead, it continues to incarnate
the brand: the brand’s passing presence has transformed the product. This
explain the value of Lux soap when it carries the HLL label for the past 75
years.
A Brand Tries to Protect Your Innovation
Brands become known through the products they create and bring on to
the market. Whenever a brand innovates, it generates ‘me-too-ism’. Any
progress made quickly becomes the standard to which buyers become
accustomed to. In other words, the role of brand name is to protect the
innovation - it creates a “mental” patent. This is nothing other than the just
reward for innovation, making on effort, and taking risks. A snapshot of a given
market will often show similar products. A dynamic vision, however, reveals
who has innovated and pulled the competition along in the wake of its success.
A Product may Die but the Brand will Sustain
A brand protects the innovator, granting momentary exclusiveness and
rewarding the willingness to take risks. Brands cannot be reduced to a symbol
or a product or a merely graphics and cosmetic exercise. A brand is the
signature on a constantly renewed, creative process. Products are introduced,
they live and disappear, but the inner or core value of the original brand endures.
A Brand is a Living Memory
The spirit of the brand can only be inferred through its products and its
advertising. The content of the brand grows out of the cumulative memory of
various acts, provided they are governed by a set of unifying ideas or guidelines.
BRAND NAME
The selection of a proper brand name is the first major step in managing
a product. The branding of a product is like naming a new-born child. It
basically serves to identify the offering. A brand name could be any word, term,
sign or symbol that identifies and distinguishes one product from another. For
example, it could be
• A word with no meaning related to the product it represents, viz., Nirma,
Titan, Vimal, Charms, Konica, etc.
• the name of the manufacturer of the product, viz, Bajaj, Godrej, Tata,
Kirloskar, etc.
• a combination of numerals and alphabets, viz., No. 10, RX 100, LIV 52,
or a word whose meaning suggests some function’s or quality of the
product. For example, brand names like Quickfix (adhesive), Band-aid
(bandage), Duroply (plywood), Sunflame (gas, stove), etc., indirectly
indicate the use of the product. Similarly, brand names for cosmetic
should preferably suggest beauty and glamour. Brand names for food
products could convey a message of taste or health.
A brand name may manipulate the buyer’s perception about the product.
Brand names are often useful in establishing an overall product concept.
Selection of Brand Name
The selection of brand names is closely related to the desired positioning
and a number of other considerations. As mentioned above, a good brand
name should basically posses qualities of distinctiveness. That is, it should
be short, noticeable, impressive, easy-to-remember and should stand out
among a host of competing name.
Generally, a good brand name should be:
• short, simple and easy to pronounce:
• easy to recognise and remember;
• pleasing when pronounced;
• not offensive, obscene or negative;
• adaptable to packaging, labelling requirements and to any advertising
medium; and
• contemporary
Companies’ Perspective on Brand Names
Companies follow difference policies in choosing brand names for the
wide range of products they market. These are briefly discussed here:
1. Individual brand names
Some companies choose distinct names for each of their offerings. For
instance, Hindustan Lever, HMT etc., have been flowing this method of giving
different names to each of their products.
2. Family branding
Some companies use a common or successful family name, also known
as umbrella branding, for several products. For instance, Ponds is a mother
brand name used for shampoos, talcum powder, cold creams and toilet soaps,
etc. Family brand strategy is usually pursued to derive the best advantage of the
goodwill attached to some erstwhile successful brand name. For example, the
name Amul has been used to market a large variety of dairy products.
3. Corporate name.
Some companies have been found to utilise their corporate name or logo
together with some brand names of individual products. For instance, the
corporate name of Godrej, Tata etc., have been used to market a wide variety
of products.
4. Alpha – numeric names
In many industrial products, an alpha-numeric name often signifies its
physical characteristics, performance and technical specifications. In marketing
products like machinery, two-wheelers, personal computers, etc., the use of
alpha-numeric names often enables companies to distinguish variations in
different models, features, etc.
Trademarks
Popular brands are more susceptible to imitation. A trade mark is a legal
right to protect a brand name or brand mark, used by many marketer to assure
the customers that they are purchasing an authentic brand at a time when piracy
is evidently on the rise.
HOW TO BUILD A BRAND
Brand building is a continuous process. The model may be used to
illustrate the salient steps of various inputs, outcomes, and assessment.
Inputs
• Identification of key customer groups or segments.
• Understanding customer expectations, needs and aspirations.
• Assessing competitive offering including substitutes.
• Building customer confidence by
- Customizing the product,
- Establishing key image of the brand,
- dealer support – easy availability and push,
- innovative communication and promotion schemes, and
- elegant packaging.
• Total brand management – both hardware and software aspects
Outcome
• Market share
• New customers attracted
• Customer loyalty index
• Increased profitability
• Brand knowledge
Assessment
• Continuous feedback from customers as well as trade channels.
• Scientific inquiry into customer satisfaction determining.
- Who is the customer and profile of the target segment,
- What constitutes customer satisfaction.
- designing the scale to measure customer satisfaction, and
- measuring current levels of customer satisfaction,
- trend analysis and pointers for management of customer
satisfaction.
- Brand strength.
Managing Brand Equity
Brand equity is the term used to describe the value of a brand’s name or
symbol. The simplest form of brand equity is familiarity. Choosing a know
brand gives the customer a justification for the decision. This justification may
also serve as a social approval, indicating that the person has bought something
of value.
Brand equity is defined as a set of brand assets and liabilities linked with
a particular brand, its name and symbol. Brand equity creates value for both
customers and the marketer. Aakar has proposed a structure (see Fig. 3.3) of
five assets underlying brand equity; these are now briefly described.
1. Brand loyalty: Higher loyalty to a brand is an important asset. It can be
utilised to persuade customers for more purchase or for spreading word
of mouth.
2. Name awareness: Creating name awareness is a necessary condition for
trial. Customers rarely purchase an unknown brand.
3. Perceived quality: A known brand often conveys an aura of quality.
Customers own judgement about quality induces purchase action.
4. Brand associations: Customers attach certain subjective and emotional
attachments which form a part of the brand equity. These associations
together form a brand “personality” which suggests situations and
customers for whom the particular brand is suitable.
5. Other assets: Patents, trademarks etc. are valuable other assets of a
brand.
Fig. 3.3 Managing Brand Equity
Brand Name Perceived Brand Other
Loyalty Awareness Quality Association Assets
Brand Equity Names
Symbol
Provides value to customer by
enhancing customer’s
Interpretation processing of
information
Ease of making choice
decision
Confidence in the purchase
decision
Use satisfaction
Provides value to firm by
enhancing
Efficiency and effectiveness
of marketing programme
Brand loyalty
Prices \ margins
Brand extensions
trade leverage
competitive advantage
CUSTOMER SERVICE STRATEGY
Customer is concerned with the building of bonds with customers and
other markets or groups to ensure long-term relationships of mutual advantage
which reinforce the other marketing mix elements. Customer service can thus be
seen as an activity which provides time and place utilities for the customer and
which also involves pre-transaction and post-transaction considerations relating
to the exchange process with the customer. Some of the key elements are shown
in Figure 3.4 The provision of high levels of customer service involves
understanding what the customer buys and determining how additional value
can be added to the offer.
Customer service was generally considered important by most
respondents. Overall, it was rated ahead of advertising, promotion and sales
effort in terms of importance and ranked third behind product and price.
However, because of the inseparability and intangibility characteristics of
services, customer service in service business is usually more important than it
is in manufacturing companies. Leading service firms are recognizing that
warranties unconditional service guarantees and free phone –in advice centres
such as General Electric’s are critical to creating differential advantage in
services marketing.
Customer service
Pre-transaction elements
1.Written service mission
and customer services
policies
2. Customers aware of
mission / policies
3.Written customer
service objectives
4. Processes supporting
service objectives
5. People and structure
supporting service
objectives
6. Technical support and
back up
7.Communication of
assurance to customer
regarding service quality
8.Information on use
Transaction elements
1. Managing demand
patterns.
2. Timing
3.Service levels
4. System accuracy
5. Ancillary services
6.Ambience
7. Financing
8. Demonstrations
9. Convenience of
acquisition
Post-transaction elements
1. Warranties
2. Complaints handling
3. Service recovery
4. Service and quality
audit
5. Service blue printing to
correct problems
6. Post purchase anxiety
reduction
7. Cross selling
8. Direct marketing
9. ‘Loyalty clubs
10. Off-peak promotional
offers
Fig. – 3.4 Elements of customer service
Service companies are now realizing, the importance of building upon
their existing client base, increasing their understanding of client needs and
creating additional cross-selling opportunities to tie their customers more closely
to them. In order to do this employees need to be trained to take a pride in
providing the best possible customer service to match the client's requirements.
Services have a particular advantage in that very often there is close personal
contact between the service provider and customer. This represents an
opportunity to provide excellent customer service; but it also provides an
opportunity for a poorly trained employee to destroy the relationship between
the customer and the company.
Customer service strategy
Christopher has outlined four key steps in creating a customer service strategy.
1.Identifying a service mission. A service company should articulate its service
commitment and values either within its corporate mission and/or in a separate
customer service mission statement which reflects the company's philosophy
and commitment to customer service.
2. Setting customer service objectives. This involves answering questions such
as:
How important is customer service compared with the other marketing mix
elements?
Which are the most important customer service elements?
How do these vary by market segment?
In considering levels of performance in setting these objectives, service
companies need to consider the importance of service quality variables such
as reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy and tangibles.
Customer service objectives need to be considered in the context of pretransaction,
transaction and post-transaction activities. This involves
understanding what customers value, and their cost base, and developing a
value proposition superior to that of competitors
3. Customer service strategy. The most markets consist of market segments,
which seek different combinations of benefits .As not all customers require the
same level of service, segmentation can be a powerful means of creating
appropriate service packages for each relevant market segment.
Christopher's approach to developing a service-based strategy consists of four
parts:
identify service segments;
identify most important products and customers;
prioritize service targets; and
develop the service package
Market research can be used to identify the key components of customers
service and their relative importance, and develop service segments. Pareto
analysis can then be used to focus on the most important products and/or
customers and specific service targets can then be prioritized. Finally, an
appropriate service package can be developed which aims at offering benefits of
greater value to customers than those of competing products. The benefits may
be real or perceived.
4. Implementation. Once the most effective service package has been
developed for each segment the company wishes to pursue it should then
become part of an integrated marketing mix. For service-sensitive sectors such
as airlines the service attributes can be used as part of the promotional
campaign. British Airways and SAS are good examples of service organizations
‘using service to sell.’
A service company should focus especially on customer service and keep
customer satisfaction levels under constant review. Usually there is a need for a
complaint system which allows unhappy customers to be identified and
corrective action taken. Above all else, a service company needs to stay in touch
with the changing needs of its customers in terms of customer service.
Many service companies have recognized the importance of customer as
a competitive weapon.
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
CLASSIFICATION OF NEW PRODUCTS
The term ‘new’ is used in a relative sense. In the recent past, new
product launches in India have shown that these launches can be broadly
classified into three categories:
1. Marketing Innovations
Companies have made improvements on existing products and have
launched these as new products in the market. For instance, Maggi noodles,
soft drinks in tetrapack, Shrikhand, Pan Parag, etc. are basically slightly altered
versions of existing or old products.
2. Product improvements
The launch of 100 cc two-wheelers, radial tyres, instamatic cameras are
basically slight innovations on the technology/design of existing products,
although the product category as such already existed in its primitive form.
3. Technological innovations
The Indian market has experienced a rapid induction of products like
personal computers, photocopiers and colour televisions. Generally, these
products require some kind of assembling of imported kids.
ROUTES OF NEW PRODUCTS DEVELOPMENT
• Transfer of technology
• Penetration of new market
• New product lines
• Product line extension
• Cost reduction
• Repositioning or product re-launch
1. Transfer of technology.
New products have often been launched, based of new technology, either
acquired from the parent company or with foreign collaboration. Launch of the
personal computer or photocopying machine is a move in this direction.
2. Diversification.
Sometimes companies have entered into new lines of business(es) and
catered to altogether new markets for the first time. DCM’s entry into the LCV
market fits into this category. Similarly, ITC’s decision to enter into hotels.
Paperboards, edible oil, tissue paper is a diversification strategy.
3. Additions to existing product lines.
New product lines and brand extensions have sometimes supplemented a
company’s existing business. Videocon’s entry into washing machines and
music systems from colour televisions is a case in point.
4. Improvements/Revisions in existing products.
New products that offer superior performance and replace existing
products are another way of entering the market. More recently Bata has
successfully launched many sportswear, fashion jeans, and apparels.
5. Cost reductions.
New products that provide similar performance at lower cost (e.g. Nirma
detergent, Tata-407 LCV)
6. Product relaunch.
Sometimes old products have been relaunched with minor improvements
and targeted at completely new markets or consumer segments, e.g. the launch
of many food products like Good day biscuits, Tata Tea, Pan Parag etc. fall
under this type of new product launches.
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
How are new products developed? Typically, the product development
process consists of the following stages:
1. Idea generation.
The process of generating new ideas may consist of brainstorming,
attribute listing, focus group discussions, or problem inventory analysis.
Broadly speaking, it involves creative thinking and technological developments.
But sources of new ideas could be varied, as explained below.
Sources of New Product Ideas
• Customers : Customers are sometimes able to discuss their
requirements and offer ideas that will meet those problems.
• Competitors : Systematic comparison or benchmarking with the
competition may offer good source of new product ideas.
• Distributors : Suggestions from distributors and their problems handling
present products often throw up new ideas.
• Creative techniques : Brainstorming, focussed interviews and
technological forecasting enable one to find out the latent capabilities of
innovations.
• External world : The external world, especially the use of their
technology, offers a good source of ideas for implementation in the home
market.
• Research and Development : Create new product ideas through R & D
2. Screening
This involves a thorough analysis of new ideas from the point of
view of the consumers reactions to the new product. Techniques for evaluating
new ideas may consist of a series of open discussions with those concerned,
where ideas are minutely scrutinised so that market failures can be minimised.
Different core concepts are tested among consumers.
The Characteristic of a strong product concept would be either to
offer entirely new benefits not offered by existing products, or else to offer some
secondary benefits in addition to the major existing benefits. Some negative
aspects of the existing products may be eliminated, or a price advantage over
available alternative may be offered. Finally, the new concept could position the
product to fit into the emerging trends in society.
3. Business analysis.
Product ideas that pass the screening process are subjected to
business analysis. Ultimately, more concrete business recommendations are
arrived at. This includes specifying product features and information or
resources needed in production. The analysis makes as assessment of market
demand, cost projections, investment requirements and even of the existing
competition.
4. Prototype development .
During this stage, the new product idea is transformed from a
concept to a prototype, outlining the physical characteristics of the product,
package designs, brand name etc. while the concept is evaluated from many
marketing angles apart from examining production requirements, cost and other
modifications necessary before entering into the test marketing stage. Here, a
major activity involves obtaining consumer feedback on different prototype
models. Typically, consumers are given a sample to test the proposed new
product. This activity is popularly known as “ concept testing”.
Concept Development
Concept development involves asking questions such as the following:
• Need : Do customers find a strong perceived need for the benefit
offered?
• Trust : Do they believe that the new product has the benefits claimed?
• Communicability : Do customers easily understand the key benefits
being offered ?
• Usage : Does it offer easy adoption ?
• Perceived value : Do customers see it as offering value at the price
being considered
5. Test marketing.
Test marketing is an experimental procedure that provides an
opportunity to examine the prospect of the new product under realistic market
conditions to obtaining a first hand measure of the potential sales volume in
national distributions. The new product is marketed on an experimental basis in
a few pockets of the market, choosing some cities and small geographic areas.
Test marketing serves two important functions. It provides an
opportunity to assess the outcome of an alternative course of action. Marketers
can vary the different marketing mix elements and assess their impact on sales
before the optimum course of action is taken. This allows management to
identify and correct weaknesses in either the product or its marketing
programme before launching the product on a national scale. Thus, if the test
market results show any kind of failure or weakness, the product may be
reformulated or the marketing mix may be changed in view of the feedback.
Therefore, the setting up of test markets can provide valuable data on the nature
of the market, marketing strategy changes and product modifications necessary
to ensure a successful launch. It is worth remembering that one cannot get a
second change to make the first impression.
6. Commercialisation :
This refers to the decision to market the new product at the full scale
of operation, which involves a significant commitment of resources and
managerial effort.
Why do New Products Fail ?
1. Lack of differential advantage. Products fail when customers do not
perceive them as better value than existing options.
2. Too Slow development . Speed of entry or design of new products is
essential in the changing market where technology is readily available.
3. Poor planning. Error in judgement about target market/segment, in
accurate positioning often misses the opportunities.
4. Lack of management enthusiasm. Management is at times, complacent
and avoids into new area.
5. Lack of organisation’s expertise. Managing new products may call for
expertise which an organisation may sometimes lack.
6. Assigning inadequate resources to market development. Presuming
that the product is so good that it will sell on its own can prove to be
wrong as special efforts of market development are required.
7. Lack of genuine superiority. If a new product is merely an imitation of
some existing product, but claims superiority with which the consumers
do not quite agree, the product will fail sooner or later.
8. Underestimating the competition. Underestimation of competitors’
capabilities and possible reaction is at times the cause of product failure.
If the product launch is based on a lower cost of production and the
assurance of good channel support. It may face its match by
competitors.
9. Poor market research. The wrong reading of consumers’ mind and
arriving at an optimistic forecast of market demand is sometimes the
reason for product failure.
10. Poor timing of launch. Too early or too late an entry into the market is
also a common cause of failure.
11. Technical problems. Products have sometimes failed because of
bottlenecks in production or design etc.
THE CONCEPT OF THE PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
To say that a product has a life cycle is to assert four things:
1) Products have a limited life.
2) Product sales pass through distinct stages, each posing different
challenges, opportunities, and problems to the seller.
3) Profits rise and fall at different stages of the product life cycle.
4) Products require different marketing, financial, manufacturing,
purchasing and human resource strategies in each stage of their life
cycle.
Most product life-cycle curves are portrayed as bell-shaped. This curve is
typically divided into four stages: introduction, growth, maturity and decline.
1. Introduction : A period of slow sales growth as the product is
introduced in the market. Profits are none existent in this stage
because of the heavy expenses incurred with product introduction.
2. Growth : A period of rapid market acceptance and substantial profit
improvement.
3. Maturity: A period of a slowdown in sales growth because the
product has achieved acceptance by most potential buyers. Profits
stabilize or decline because of increased competition.
4. Decline. The period when sales show a downward drift and profits
erode.
MARKETING STRATEGIES: INTRODUCTION STAGE
Profits are negative or low in the introduction stage because of low sales
and heavy distribution and promotion expenses. Much money is needed to
attract distributors. Promotional expenditures are at their highest ratio to sales
because of the need to (1) inform potential consumers, (2) induce product trial,
and (3) secure distribution in retail outlets. Firms focus their selling on those
buyers who are the readiest to buy, usually higher-income groups. Prices tend to
be high because costs are high due to relatively low output rates, technological
problems in production, and high required margins to support the heavy
promotional expenditures.
In launching a new product, marketing management can set a high or a
low level for each marketing variable (price, promotion, distribution, product
quality). Considering only price and promotion, management can pursue one of
four strategies.
1. Rapid skimming: Launching the new product at a high price and a high
promotion level. This strategy makes sense when a large part of the
potential market is unaware of the product; those who become aware of
the product are eager to have it and can pay the asking price; and the
firm faces potential competition and wants to build brand preference.
2. Slow skimming: Launching the new product at a high price and low
promotion. This strategy makes sense when the market is limited in size;
most of the market is aware of the product; buyers are willing to pay a
high price; and potential competition is not imminent.
3. Rapid penetration: Launching the product at a low price and spending
heavily on promotion. This strategy makes sense when the market is
large, the market is unaware of the product, most buyers are price
sensitive, there is strong potential competition, and the unit
manufacturing costs fall with the company’s scale of production and
accumulated manufacturing experience.
4. Slow penetration: Launching the new product at a low price and low
level of promotion. This strategy makes sense when the market is large,
is highly aware of the product, is price sensitive, and there is some
potential competition.
Market pioneer gains the most advantage. Research has shown that consumer
often prefer pioneering brand.
The Pioneer Advantage.
Companies that plan to introduce a new product must decide when to
enter the market. To be first can be highly rewarding, but risky and expensive.
To come in later makes sense if the firm can bring superior technology, quality,
or brand strength. For example coca-cola, Kodak.
MARKETING STRATEGIES: GROWTH STAGE
The growth stage is marked by a rapid climb in sales.Companies
maintain their promotional expenditures at the same or at a slightly increased
level to meet competition and to continue to educate the market. Profits increase
during this stage as promotion costs are spread over a larger volume and unit
manufacturing costs fall faster than price declines owing to the producer
learning effect.
During this stage, the firm uses several strategies to sustain rapid market
growth as long as possible:
It improves product quality and adds new product features and improved
styling.
It adds new models and flanker products (i.e. products of different sizes,
flavors, and so forth that protect the main product).
It enters new market segments.
It increases its distribution coverage and enters new distribution
channels.
It shifts from product-awareness advertising to product-preference
advertising.
It lowers prices to attract the next layer of price-sensitive buyers.
MARKETING STRATEGIES : MATURITY STAGE
At some point, the rate of sales growth will slow, and the product will
enter a stage of relative maturity. This stage normally lasts longer than the
previous stage, and poses formidable challenges to marketing management.
Most products are in the maturity stage of the life cycle, and most marketing
managers cope with the problem of marketing the mature product.
The maturity stage divides into three phases: growth, stable, and
decaying maturity. In the first phase, the sales growth rate starts to decline.
There are no new distribution channels to fill. In the second phase, the sales
flatten on a per capita basis because of market saturation. Most potential
consumers have tried the product, and future sales are governed by population
growth and replacement demand. In the third phase, decaying maturity, the
absolute level of sales starts to decline, and customers begin switching to other
products and substitutes.
Market Modification
The company might try to expand the market for its mature brand by
working with the two factors that make up sales volume.
Volume = number of brand users x usage rate per user.
The company can try to expand the number of brand users in three ways.
1. Convert nonusers : The key to the growth of air freight service is the
constant search for new users to whom air carriers can demonstrate the
benefits of using air freight rather than ground transportation.
2. Enter new market segments: Johnson & Johnson successfully promoted
its baby shampoo to adult users.
3. Win competitor’s customers: Pepsi-Cola is constantly tempting Cococola
users to switch.
Volume can also be increased by convincing current brand users to increase
their usage of the brand. Here are three strategies: (1) The company can try to
get customers to use the product more frequently: Orange juice marketers try to
get people to drink orange juice at occasions other than breakfast time. (2) The
company can try to interest users in using more of the product on each occasion:
A shampoo manufacturer might indicate that the shampoo is more effective with
two applications than one. (3) The company can try to discover new product
uses and convince people to use the product is more varied ways: Food
manufactures list several recipes on their packages to broaden consumers’ uses
of the product.
Product Modification
Managers also try to stimulate sales by modifying the product’s
characteristics through quality improvement, feature improvement, or style
improvement.
Quality Improvement aims at increasing the product’s functional
performance – its durability, reliability, speed, taste. A manufacture can often
overtake its competition by launching a “new and improved” product.
Feature improvement aims at adding new features (for example, size,
weight, materials, additives, accessories) that expand the product’s versatility,
safety, or convenience.
A strategy of style improvement aims at increasing the product’s
aesthetic appeal. The periodic introduction of new car models amounts to style
competition rather than quality or feature competition.
Marketing – MixModification
Product managers might also try to stimulate sales by modifying other
marketing mix elements. They should ask the following questions:
Prices : Would a price cut attract new buyers ? If so, should the list price
be lowered, or should prices be lowered through price specials, volume
or early purchase discounts, freight cost absorption, or easier credit
terms? Or would it be better to raise the price to signal higher quality ?
Distribution : Can the company obtain more product support and display
in existing outlets ? Can more outlets be penetrated ? Can the company
introduce the product into new distribution channels? When Goodyear
decided to sell its tires via Wal-Mart, Sears, and Discount Tire, it
boosted market share from 14 percent to 16 percent in the first year.
Advertising: Should advertising expenditures be increased? Should the
message or copy be changed? Should the media mix be changed?
Should the timing, frequency, or size of ads be changed?
Sales Promotion : Should the company step up sales promotion – trade
deals, cents off coupons, rebates, warranties, gifts, and contests ?
Personal selling : Should the number or quality of sales people be
increased ? Should the basis for sales force specialization be changed ?
Should sales territories be revised ? Should sales force incentives be
revised ? Can sales-call planning be improved ?
Services : Can the company speed up delivery ? can it extend more
technical assistance to customers? Can it extend more credit?
Marketers often debate which tools are most effective in the mature stage.
A major problem with marketing mix modifications, especially price
reductions and additional services, is that they are easily imitated.
MARKETING STRATEGIES: DECLINE STAGE
The sales of most product forms and brands eventually decline. The
decline might be slow.
Sales decline for a number of reasons, including technological advances,
shifts in consumer tastes, and increased domestic and foreign competition. All
lead to overcapacity, increased price cutting, and profit erosion.
As sales and profits decline, some firms withdraw from the market.
Those remaining may reduce the number of products they offer. They may
withdraw from smaller market segments and weaker trade channels, and they
may cut their promotion budget and reduce their prices further.
In a study of company strategies in declining industries, Harrigan
identified five decline strategies available to the firm:
1. Increasing the firm’s investment (to dominate the market or strengthen
its competitive position)
2. Maintaining the firm’s investment level until the uncertainties about the
industry are resolved.
3. Decreasing the firm’s investment level selectively, by dropping
unprofitable customer groups, while simultaneously strengthening the
firm’s investment in lucrative niches.
4. Harvesting(“milking”) the firm’s investment to recover cash quickly
5. Divesting the business quickly by disposing of its assets as
advantageously as possible.
The appropriate decline strategy depends on the industry’s relative
attractiveness and the company’s competitive strength in that industry.
Diffusion of Innovation
It examines a major issue in marketing and consumer behavior, the
acceptance of new products and services. The introduction of new products and
services is vital to the consumer and the marketer. For the consumer, the new
products and services represent increased opportunities to satisfy personal,
social, and environmental needs. For marketer, new products and services
provide an important mechanism for keeping the firm competitive and
profitable.
The framework for exploring consumer acceptance of new products is
drawn form the area of research known as the diffusion of innovations.
Diffusion of innovation involve two process: the diffusion process and adoption
process
The Diffusion Process
In his comprehensive book Diffusion of Innovation, Everett Rogers
defines diffusion as the process by which an innovation is communicated
through certain channels over time among the members of a social system.
Rogers' definition contains four elements that are present in the diffusion
process.
INNOVATION
An innovation is an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new by
an individual or other unit of adoption. The characteristics of an innovation, as
perceived by the members of a social system, determine its rate of adoption.
The characteristics which determine an innovation's rate of adoption are:
(1) relative advantage, (2) compatibility, (3) complexity, (4) trialability, and (5)
observability.
• Relative advantage is the degree to which an innovation is perceived as
better than the idea it supersedes. The degree of relative advantage may
be measured in economic terms, but social prestige, convenience, and
satisfaction are also important factors. The greater the perceived relative
advantage of an innovation, the more rapid its rate of adoption will be.
• Compatibility is the degree to which an innovation is perceived as being
consistent with the existing values, past experiences, and needs of
potential adopters. An idea that is incompatible with the values and
norms of a social system will not be adopted as rapidly as an innovation
that is compatible.
• Complexity is the degree to which an innovation is perceived as difficult
to understand and use. Some innovations are readily understood by most
members of a social system; others are more complicated and will be
adopted more slowly. New ideas that are simpler to understand are
adopted more rapidly than innovations that require the adopter to
develop new skills and understandings.
• Trialability is the degree to which an innovation may be experimented
with on a limited basis. New ideas that can be tried on the installment
plan will generally be adopted more quickly than innovations that are not
divisible. An innovation that is trialable represents less uncertainty to the
individual who is considering it for adoption.
• Observability is the degree to which the results of an innovation are
visible to others. The easier it is for individuals to see the results of an
innovation, the more likely they are to adopt it. Such visibility stimulates
peer discussion of a new idea, as friends and neighbors of an adopter
often request innovation-evaluation information about it.
In summary, then, innovations that are perceived by individuals as
having greater relative advantage, compatibility, trialability, observability, and
less complexity will be adopted more rapidly than other innovations.
COMMUNICATION CHANNEL
The second main element in the diffusion of new ideas is the
communication channel. Communication is the process by which participants
create and share information with one another in order to reach a mutual
understanding. A communication channel is the means by which messages get
from one individual to another. Mass media channels are more effective in
creating knowledge of innovations, whereas interpersonal channels are more
effective in forming and changing attitudes toward a new idea, and thus in
influencing the decision to adopt or reject a new idea. Most individuals evaluate
an innovation, not on the basis of scientific research by experts, but through the
subjective evaluations of near-peers who have adopted the innovation.
TIME
The third main element in the diffusion of new ideas is time. The time
dimension is involved in diffusion in three ways. First, time is involved in the
innovation-decision process. The innovation-decision process is the mental
process through which an individual (or other decision-making unit) passes from
first knowledge of an innovation to forming an attitude toward the innovation, to
a decision to adopt or reject, to implementation of the new idea, and to
confirmation of this decision. An individual seeks information at various stages
in the innovation-decision process in order to decrease uncertainty about an
innovation's expected consequences. The second way in which time is involved
in diffusion is in the innovativeness of an individual or other unit of adoption.
Innovativeness is the degree to which an individual or other unit of adoption is
relatively earlier in adopting new ideas than other members of a social system.
There are five adopter categories, or classifications of the members of a social
system on the basis on their innovativeness: (1) innovators, (2) early adopters,
(3) early majority, (4) late majority, and (5) laggards.
• Innovators are the first 2.5 percent of the individuals in a system to adopt
an innovation. Venturesomeness is almost an obsession with innovators.
This interest in new ideas leads them out of a local circle of peer
networks and into more cosmopolite social relationships.
Communication patterns and friendships among a clique of innovators
are common, even though the geographical distance between the
innovators may be considerable. Being an innovator has several
prerequisites. Control of substantial financial resources is helpful to
absorb the possible loss from an unprofitable innovation. The ability to
understand and apply complex technical knowledge is also needed. The
innovator must be able to cope with a high degree of uncertainty about
an innovation at the time of adoption. While an innovator may not be
respected by the other members of a social system, the innovator plays
an important role in the diffusion process: That of launching the new
idea in the system by importing the innovation from outside of the
system's boundaries. Thus, the innovator plays a gatekeeping role in the
flow of new ideas into a system.
• Early adopters are the next 13.5 percent of the individuals in a system to
adopt an innovation. Early adopters are a more integrated part of the
local system than are innovators. Whereas innovators are cosmopolites,
early adopters are localites. This adopter category, more than any other,
has the greatest degree of opinion leadership in most systems. Potential
adopters look to early adopters for advice and information about the
innovation. This adopter category is generally sought by change agents
as a local missionary for speeding the diffusion process. Because early
adopters are not too far ahead of the average individual in
innovativeness, they serve as a role-model for many other members of a
social system. The early adopter is respected by his or her peers, and is
the embodiment of successful, discrete use of new ideas. The early
adopter knows that to continue to earn this esteem of colleagues and to
maintain a central position in the communication networks of the system,
he or she must make judicious innovation-decisions. The early adopter
decreases uncertainty about a new idea by adopting it, and then
conveying a subjective evaluation of the innovation to near-peers
through interpersonal networks.
• Early majority is the next 34 percent of the individuals in a system to
adopt an innovation. The early majority adopt new ideas just before the
average member of a system. The early majority interact frequently with
their peers, but seldom hold positions of opinion leadership in a system.
The early majority's unique position between the very early and the
relatively late to adopt makes them an important link in the diffusion
process. They provide interconnectedness in the system's interpersonal
networks. The early majority are one of the two most numerous adopter
categories, making up one-third of the members of a system. The early
majority may deliberate for some time before completely adopting a new
idea. "Be not the first by which the new is tried, nor the last to lay the old
aside," fits the thinking of the early majority. They follow with deliberate
willingness in adopting innovations, but seldom lead.
• Late majority is the next 34 percent of the individuals in a system to
adopt an innovation. The late majority adopt new ideas just after the
average member of a system. Like the early majority, the late majority
make up one-third of the members of a system. Adoption may be the
result of increasing network pressures from peers. Innovations are
approached with a skeptical and cautious air, and the late majority do not
adopt until most others in their system have done so. The weight of
system norms must definitely favor an innovation before the late
majority are convinced. The pressure of peers is necessary to motivate
adoption. Their relatively scarce resources mean that most of the
uncertainty about a new idea must be removed before the late majority
feel that it is safe to adopt.
• Laggards are the last 16 percent of the individuals in a system to adopt
an innovation. They possess almost no opinion leadership. Laggards are
the most localite in their outlook of all adopter categories; many are near
isolates in the social networks of their system. The point of reference for
the laggard is the past. Decisions are often made in terms of what has
been done previously. Laggards tend to be suspicious of innovations and
change agents. Resistance to innovations on the part of laggards may be
entirely rational from the laggard's viewpoint, as their resources are
limited and they must be certain that a new idea will not fail before they
can adopt.
The third way in which time is involved in diffusion is in rate of
adoption. The rate of adoption is the relative speed with which an innovation is
adopted by members of a social system. The rate of adoption is usually
measured as the number of members of the system that adopt the innovation in a
given time period .
SOCIAL SYSTEM
The fourth main element in the diffusion of new ideas is the social
system. A social system is defined as a set of interrelated units that are engaged
in joint problem-solving to accomplish a common goal. The members or units of
a social system may be individuals, informal groups, organizations, and/or
subsystems. The social system constitutes a boundary within which an
innovation diffuses.
THE ADOPTION PROCESS
The second major process in the diffusion of innovations is adoption.
The focus of this process is the stages through which an individual consumer
passes while arriving at a decision to try or not to try or to continue using or to
discontinue using a new product.
Stages in the Adoption Process
It is often assumed that the consumer moves through five stages in
arriving at a decision to purchase or reject a new product (1) awareness, (2)
interest, (3) evaluation, (4) trial, and (5) adoption (or rejection). The stages in
the adoption process can be described as follows.
1. Awareness. During the first stage of the adoption process,
Consumers are exposed to the product innovation. This exposure is
somewhat neutral, for they are not yet sufficiently interested enough
to search for additional product information.
2. Interest. When consumers develop an interest in the product or
product category, they search for information about how the
innovation can benefit them.
3. Evaluation. Based on their information, consumers draw
conclusions about the innovation or determine whether further
information is necessary. The evaluation stage represents a kind of
“mental trial” of the product innovation. When the evaluation is
satisfactory, the consumer will actually try the product innovation.
When the mental trail is unsatisfactory, the product will be rejected.
4. Trial. At this stage, consumers use the product on a limited basis.
Their experience with the product provides them with the critical
information that they need to adopt or reject.
5. Adoption (Rejection) Based on their trails and/or favourable
evaluation, consumer decide to use the product on a full, rather than
limited basis, or they decide to reject it.
FIG. 3.4 Diffusion of innovation
.
Awarenes
s
Interest
Evaluation
Rejection
Purchase
Trial
Direct
Product
Experience
(Conseque
nces)
Product
Evaluation
(Confirma
tion)
Rejection
Adoption
Questions for Discussion:
1. Explain the steps involved in new product development.
2. Why are new products so important to firms
3. Describe each of the four stages of the product life cycle. For each
stages, given an example.
4. What are some considerations is selecting a brand name.
5. Explain the concept diffusion of innovation.
6. Explain the expanded marketing mix for services.
7. Explain the concept of financial products.
UNIT IV
MANAGEMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
I. PRICING
Pricing decisions have strategic importance in any enterprise.
Price is the only variable factor determining the revenues or income. A variety
of economic and social objectives came into prominence in many pricing
decisions.
1) What is Price ?
Price is the mechanism or device for translating into quantitative terms
(Rupees and Paise) the perceived value of the product to the customer at a point
of time. We shall define the price as the amount charged for the product or
service including any warranties or guarantees, delivery, discounts, services or
other items that are part of the conditions of sale and are not paid for separately.
To the buyer price is a package of expectations and satisfactions.
Thus, price must be equal to the total amount of benefits (physical, economic,
social, ecological and psychological benefits). Any change in the price will also
bring about alterations in the satisfaction side of the equation. To the ultimate
consumer, the price he pays for a product or service represents a sacrifice of
purchasing power.
Price is the only objective criteria for the consumers for comparing alternative
items and making the final choice.
Price is equivalent to the total product offering. This offering includes a brand
name, a package, product benefits, service after sale, delivery, credit and so on.
We can now define price as the money value of a product or service agreed upon
in a market transaction. price equation, where;
Money (Price) = Bundle of Expectations or Satisfactions.
Price-meaning :
It is the quantity of money that has to be exchanged for one unit of a goods or
service.
The price may be of a commodity or of a factor of production. The former is
called
‘Commodity-pricing’, the latter ‘Factor-Pricing’ (determination of price of a
factor).
Market Price :
The price that exists in very short period is known as market price. It is
determined by the temporary equilibrium between demand and supply.
Normal Price :
The price that is supposed to prevail in the long period is known as normal price.
It gets only normal profits to the production.
Price Determination :
The process whereby the amount paid for each unit of a goods sold in a market
is decided through the interaction of demand and supply influences.
Price Discrimination :
It refers to the charging of different prices to different groups of individuals
for the same goods or services for reasons not associated with difference in
costs. Price discrimination can occur only when the seller has a degree of
monopoly power and when his market is divided into segments with which he
can deal separately.
Pricing policy :
It is the policy or rules adopted by a firm or public enterprise which determines
the prices it sets for its products.
Factor Pricing and Product Pricing
Though, like product pricing, factor pricing is based on the forces of demand
and supply, yet there are fundamental differences between the two which make
factor pricing as a distinct theory :
(i) There are differences in the nature of demand for a product and a factor. The
demand for a product is direct demand based on its marginal utility, while the
demand for a factor is derived from the demand for the product it helps to
produce.
(ii) the supply of a product depends on its money cost of production, while the
supply of a factor depends on its opportunity cost, the minimum earning which it
can earn in the next best alternative use.
(iii) The pricing of some of the factors like labour and entrepreneur is influenced
by social and human factors, whereas product pricing is influenced little by
these factors. Despite these apparent differences, “the theory of product prices
and the theory of factor prices are parts of one whole”.
2. Importance of Pricing :
Price is matter of vital importance to both the seller and the buyer in the market
place. In money economy, without prices there cannot be marketing. Price
means the value of a product or service expressed in money.
In a competitive market economy, price is determined by free play of demand
and supply. The price will move forward or backward with changing supply and
demand conditions. In a free market economy, we have freedom of contract,
freedom of enterprise, free competition and right to private property. Price
influences consumer purchase decisions. It reflects purchasing power of
money. It can determine the general living standards. In essence, by and large,
every facet of our economic life is directly or indirectly governed by pricing.
Price regulates business profits, allocates the economic resources for maximum
production and distribution.
Pricing decisions interconnect marketing actions with the financial objectives of
the enterprise. Among the most important marketing variables influenced by
pricing decisions are: 1. sales volume, 2. profit margin, 3. rate of return on
investment, (ROI)
4. trade margins, 5. advertising and sales sales promotion, 6. product image, 7.
new product development. Hence, pricing decisions play a very important role
in the design of the marketing mix. Pricing strategy determines the firm’s
position in the market vis-a-vis its rivals. Marketing effectiveness of pricing
policy and strategy should not suffer merely on account of cost and financial
criteria. Hence, all marketing planners must make accurate and planned pricing
decisions.
3) The Significance of the Price Factor :
The selling price plays a unique role in business because the price level: 1.
controls the sales volume and the firm’s market share, 2. determines the total
sales revenue (sales revenue = sales volume x unit price) 3. regulates the rate of
return on investment (ROI) and through ROI price influences sales profitability,
4. creates an impact on unit cost in mass production.
4) Typical Pricing Objectives
A variety of objectives may guide pricing decision:
1. Growth in Sales : A low price can achieve the objective of increase in sales
volume. A low price is not always necessary. A right price can stimulate the
desired sales increase.
2. Market Share : Price is typically one of those factors that carries the heaviest
responsibility for improving or maintaining market share.
3. Predetermined Profit Level : Return on Investment, say 25 to 30 per cent is a
common decision in marketing. Pricing for profit is the most logical of all
pricing objectives.
4. Follow Competition : Many firms desire the stabilisation of price levels and
operating margins as more important than the maintenance of a certain level of
short-run profits. The price leader maintains stable prices in the industry. Follow
the leader.
5. Control Cash Flow : The prime objective of pricing is to return cash as much
as possible (funds Invested) within given period. Expenditure must be recovered
within a specified period.
5) Market Price :
The market price is the price determined by the free play of demand and supply.
The market price of a product affects the price paid to the factors of production -
rent for land, wages for labour, interest for capital and profit for enterprise.
Infact, price becomes a basic regulator of the entire economic system because it
influences the allocation of these resources.
6) Multistage Price Determination Process :
The price decisions must take into account all factors affecting both demand
price and supply price. The price determination process involves the following
steps: 1. Market segmentation 2. Estimate of total demand. 3. Market share, 4.
Designing the marketing mix, 5. Estimate of total costs 6. Selecting pricing
policies, 7. Determining pricing strategies, 8. Development the price structure.
1. Market Segmentation : On the basis of market opportunity analysis and
assessment of firms strengths and weaknesses marketers will find out specific
marketing targets in the form of appropriate market segments. Marketers will
have firm decision on : (a) the type of products to be produced or sold, (b) the
kind of service to be rendered, (c) the costs of operations to be estimated,. and
(d) the types of customers or market segments sought.
2. Estimate of Demand : Marketers will estimate total demand for the products.
It will be based on sales forecast, channel opinions and degree of competition in
the market.
3. The Market Share : Marketers will choose a brand image and the desired
market share on the basis of competitive reaction. Market planners must know
exactly what his rivals are charging. Level of competitive pricing enables the
firm to price above, below, or at par and such a decision is easier in many cases.
Higher inital price may be preferred if you expect a smaller market share,
whereas if you expect of much larger market share, you prefer lower price.
4) The Marketing Mix : The overall marketing strategy is based on an
integrated approach to all the elements of marketing mix. It covers :
1. product-market strategy, 2. promotion strategy, 3. pricing strategy, and 4.
distribution strategy. All elements of the marketing mix are essential to the
overall success of the firm. Price is the strategic element of marketing mix as it
influences the quality perception and enables product positioning.
5) Estimate of Costs : Straight cost-plus pricing is not desirable always as it is
not sensitive to demand. Marketing must take into account all relevant costs as
well as price elasticity of demand, if necessary, through market tests.
6) Pricing Policies : Price policies provide the general framework within which
managerial decisions are made on pricing. Pricing policies are guidelines to
carry out pricing strategy. Pricing policy may desire to meet competition or we
may have pricing above or below the competition. We may have fixed or
flexible pricing policies. Pricing policies must change and adapt themselves with
the changing objectives and changing environment.
7) Pricing Strategies: Pricing policies are general guidelines for recurrent and
routine issues in marketing. Strategy is a plan of action (a movement or counter
movement) to adjust with changing conditions of the market place. New and
unanticipated developments may occur, e.g., price cut by rivals, government
regulations economic recession, fluctuations in purchasing power of consumers,
changes in consumer demand, and so on. Situations like these demand special
attention and relevant adjustments in our pricing policies and procedures.
8) The Price Structure: Developing the price structure on the basis of pricing
policies strategies is the final step in price determination process.
PRICING DICISIONS
Pricing the product is one of the important element in marketing mix. Until
recently it has been one of the most neglected areas. Even today, pricing in some
firms is simply based on the concepts of cost, market position, competition and
necessary profits.
Pricing Strategy and the Competitive Situation :
Pricing strategy changes with competitive situation. Pricing strategy is
uncontrollable when management is unable to determine prices. At the other
extreme in those rare cases where marketer has a long term monopoly pricing is
cent-per cent controllable. Monopolisit sets his price to maximise profits by
“Charging what the traffic will bear” but in the real world various external
pressures prevent him from having a pure monopoly type price.
Factors Affecting Pricing Decisions
1. Objectives of the Business : There may be various objectives of the firm such
as getting a reasonable rate of return, to capture the market, maintenance of
control over sales and profits etc. A pricing policy thus, should be established
only after proper consideration of the objectives of the firm.
2. Cost of the Product: Cost and price of a product are closely related.
Normally, the price cannot or shall not fixed below its cost (including the
product, administrative and selling costs). Price also determines the cost.
3. Market Position. The prices of the products of different producers are
different either because of difference in quality because of the goodwill of the
firm. A reputed concern may fix may fix higher prices for its products on the
other hand, a new producer may fix lower prices for its products. Competition
may also affect the pricing decisions.
4. Competitors Prices: Competitive conditions affect the pricing decisions. The
company considers the prices fixed and quality maintained by the competitors
for their products.
5. Distribution Channels Policy : The nature of distribution channels used, and
trade discounts which have to be allowed to distributors and the distribution
expenses also affect the pricing decisions.
6. Price Elasticity and Demand Elasticity : Price elasticity affects the decisions
of price fixation. Price elasticity means the consequential change of demand for
the change for the change in the prices of the comomodity. If demand is elastic,
the firm should not fix high prices rather it should fix lower prices than that of
the competitors.
7. Product’s Stage in the Life Cycle of the Product : Pricing decision is
affected by the stage of product in its life-cycle. In the introductory stage of the
product, it the price strategy which determines the price of the product.
8. Product Differentiation : The price of the product also depends upon the
characteristics of the product. In order to attract the customers different
characteristics are added to the product such as quantity, size, colour, alternative
uses, etc.
9. Buying Patterns of the Consumers : If the purchase frequency of the product
is higher, lower prices should be fixed to have a low profit margin. It will
facilitate increasing the sale volume and the total profits of the firm.
10. Economic Environment : In recession period, the prices are reduced to a
sizeable extent to maintain the level of turnover. On the other hand, the price
and increased in boom period to cover the increasing cost of production and
distribution.
11. Government Policy : Price discretion is also affected by the price control
by the government through enactment of legislation when it is thought proper to
arrest the inflationary trend in prices of certain commodities.
Process of Price Determination of a Product
Generally the following procedure may be followed.
1. Estimating the Demand for the Product : The first step in determining the
price of a new product is to estimate the anticipated demand of the product. The
estimate of demand at different price levels can be fixed on the basis of elasticity
demand of the product. If demand is elastic the price may be fixed lower or in
case of inelastic demand prices may be higher.
2. Anticipating Competition : Having estimated the demand of the product,
competitive situation in the present and in future should also be studied.
3. Determining Expected Share of Market : The next step will be to determine
the market share which a company will try to capture. It depends on various
factors such as present production capacity, cost of extension programmes, cost
of production and competition etc.
4. Selecting a suitable price Strategy : Keeping in view the business objectives
in mind a suitable price strategy should be selected. There are various price
strategies to be adopted such as (i) Skimming the cream pricing strategy, (ii)
Low penetration pricing strategy, (iii) Discouraging potential competitors.
5. Companies Marketing Policies : The marketing policies regarding the
following aspect should be considered as a next step.
a) Production Policies : In determining the price, the nature of the product
should be considered.
b) Channels of Distribution : It also affect the pricing of a product.
c) Promotional Polities : It also influence the price of the product
d) Selecting the Price : Price fixation is based on the ability and experience of
the management.
II. PRICING POLICIES
Introduction
The formulation of price policy and setting of the price are important functions
of a managerial economist. Proper pricing enables the expansion of sales. That
price helps in maximization of income of a firm. In short setting proper prices
will enable increase in sales and income, prices are important for consumers. For
all their buying decisions are influenced by prices. Price determines the standard
of living of the people. It is the regulator of production and allocator of
resources. Price is the universal index of value. It is the best measure of demand.
Pricing Policy :
It is the policy or rules adopted by a firm or public enterprise which determines
the prices it sets for its products. For example, it is argued that public enterprises
should adopt marginal cost pricing policies. In analysing the pricing policies of
private sector firms, economists believe that, if a firm’s objective is to maximise
profits, its pricing policy will consist of setting a price in such a manner that of
the marginal cost equals marginal revenue.
The formulation of a pricing policy by a business firm is influenced by the
following aspects :
a Pricing policy is to be set in the light of competitive situation in the market.
a Price should aim at maximizing profits.
a Prices should be set to promote the long-range welfare of the firm.
a Prices should be adopted in accordance with the diverse competitive
situations.
a Pricing policies should be flexible enough to meet changes in economic
conditions.
a A clear vision of a firms business objective such as survival, growth,
etc. is to set.
a A pre-determined and systematic method of pricing new products should be
introduced by the firm.
Objectives of Pricing Policy :
The following are the specific objectives of the pricing policy of a firm:
1. The primary objective of a firm is to maximise its profits.
2. To face the competitive situations in the market.
3. To establish stable prices.
4. Sometimes the producer wants to capture the market. He therefore fixes a
lower price at the time of introducing the product in the market.
5. Price decisions are taken on the basis of the ability to customers to pay.
6. The main aim of some concerns is to fix the price of products in the best
interest of the firms in the long run.
7. In some cases, reputed firms aim at achieving the target return.
Factors influencing pricing policy :
The following are some general considerations which must be kept in view
while formulating suitable pricing policy.
1. The pricing policy of a firm must be in conformity with its objectives.
2. A reputed firm may fix a higher price in view of its reputation among
customers.
3. A firm considers the prices fixed and the quality maintained by the
competitors for their products.
4. Prices cannot be fixed below the cost of production.
5. Pricing policy may be different in different stages of a product’s life cycle.
6. Price elasticity of demand affects pricing policies. A high price is fixed for
inelastic goods and vice versa.
7. In a non-price sensitive market the price depends on differentiation of the
products in its size, colour, quality etc.
8. The purchasing power of the buyers also affect the pricing policy.
9. Fluctuations in trade cycle affect the pricing decision of the firm.
10. Sometimes price fixation depends on government policy.
11. Fair prices are charged in view social and ethical consideration.
Price is an important element in the marketing mix. Arrival at the right selling
price is essential in a sound marketing mix. Right price can be determined
through pricing research and by adopting the test market techniques. A price
policy is the standing answer of the firm to recurring problem of pricing. It
provides guidelines to the marketing manager to evolve appropriate pricing
decisions. If there is non-price competition, each marketer chooses from among
the three
alternatives : -
i) A Price in Line (Pricing at the market) : The sale at current market price is
desirable under free competition and when a traditional or customary price level
exists.
ii) Market-Plus (Pricing above the market) : The sale above the market prices
under the free competition is profitable only when your product is distinctive,
unique and it has prestige or status in the market. Customer is inclined to put a
greater value on the product if the package is very good or the brand is wellknown.
iii) Market-Minus (Pricing below the market): The sale below the market price,
particularly at the retail level, is profitable only to large chain stores, self-service
stores and discount houses.
2) Non-Price Competition : The seller should rely more on non-price factors to
capture the consumer demand. At present in many countries business firms
avoid price reduction as a means of competition. With or without price
competition, increasing emphasis is being given on the various weapons of nonprice
competition. Non-price competition devices are : 1. Branding, 2. Attractive
packaging, 3. Service after sale, 4. Liberal credit, 5. Free home delivery, 6.
Money-back guarantee (return of goods), 7. Sales promotion,
8. Advertising. 9. personal selling (salesmanship)
3. Pricing of New Products :
The problem arises as to what prices should be charged for the new products in
the initial stage. There are two pricing policies practically accepted by firms.
a) High initial pricing or Skimming pricing
b) Low initial pricing or Penetration pricing
a) High initial pricing or skimming pricing :
Under this strategy, the price of a new product is fixed high at the initial stage.
Gradually, this price is reduced when competition starts in the market. This
strategy is based on the notion that at the initial stage of a product, there is no
competition in the market and the price of it may be fixed high.
The firm has to incur heavy expenditure on research, advertisement and sales
promotion programme of a new product. Therefore, it is necessary on the part of
the firm to keep the price of the product high to recover this expenditure.
The causes for the adoption of the high initial pricing strategy are :
Absence of competition at the initial stage.
Relatively less elastic demand.
Heavy expenditure on a new product.
Suitable for luxurious products.
Every recovery of initial investment.
Earning high rate of profit at the initial stage.
Attracting the consumers of high income group.
Skim-the-cream Price (high Pricing) : A manufacturer introducing a new
product may adopt this pricing strategy deliberately to build up the image of
quality and prestige for his new product.
In the earlier stage of product life cycle, a strategy of high price associates with
heavy expenditure on promotion, adn at the later stage of the product life cycle,
a strategy of lower prices with normal promotional expenditure pays a rich
dividend.
Reasons for Skimming Price Policy: There are a few reasons supporting
skim-the-cream pricing for a new unique product in its introduction stage: 1. In
the initial stage, we have less elastic demand. Price is less important in purchase
decisions.
2. When entry of rivals is difficult, costs are uncertain, life-cycle is short, we
should prefer skimming price. 3. Skimming price enables the firm to take the
cream of the market, at a higher price and then it may attempt to appeal pricesensitive
sections of the market by adopting penetration, i.e., lower price. 4.
High initial price can keep demand within limit of our productive capacity. 5. It
can provide high margin at the initial stage.
There are two disadvantages of skimming price : 1. It attracts competition. 2. If
entry of rivals is easy, this policy is risky.
b) Penetration Pricing (Low Pricing) :
b) Low initial pricing or Penetration Pricing :
Under this strategy, the price of a product is fixed low at the initial stage.
Gradually this price is increased when the product get popularity in the market.
This strategy is based on the notion that a new product can enter into the market
easily, if its price is kept low. This pricing strategy is adopted by a new firm or
by an existing firm which introduces a new product or by a firm which wants to
expend its market. This strategy is very suitable when there is tough competition
in the market.
The causes for the adoption of the low initial pricing strategy are:
D Economies of large scale production
D Low cost of production of a need product.
D Minimum expenditure on research and advertisement.
D Suitable when the demand for a new product is relatively elastic.
D Discouraging competition.
D Enter and expand the market.
D Suitable for low income group consumers.
D Discouraging government intervention.
D Earning maximum profit through maximum sales.
The approach is favourable under the following conditions: 1. Product has
greater elasticity of demand. 2. Mass production provides substantial reduction
in unit cost of production. 3. Very strong competition is expected soon after the
product enters the market. 4. High-income section of the population is not
adequate. We have bulk of the population in the middle and lower income
group.
Reasons for Low Pricing: When product has long life cycle, it has a mass
market, entry of rivals into the market is easier and demand is elastic,
penetration price is always preferable as rivals are discouraged to enter the
market and you can establish a strong hold on the market share, incidentally
making future entry of rivals difficult. The only disadvantages of this pricing is
we may have excess demand within a short period.
5) One-Price vs. Variable Price Policy :
i) Under one-price policy, a seller will charge all similar types of buyers exactly
the same price and there will be no discrimination among the buyers of the same
commondity. There is no question of negotiation, bargaining. No favouritism is
shown to any buyers.
ii) Under variable-price or negotiated price policy, the seller will sell same
quantities to
different buyers at different prices. Certain favoured customers are offered lower
prices. The terms of sale, e.g., discounts and allowances are granted on unequal
terms to buyers. Sellers commonly use variable pricing for most consumer
items. In retail trade the price discrimination is usual.
6) Cost-plus or Mark-up Pricing :
This method is considered the best approach to pricing. It is based on the seller’s
per-unit cost of the product plus ‘an additional margin of profit. There are four
items in determining the sale price : 1. Cost of producing/acquiring goods. 2.
Cost of operating/selling expenses. 3. Interest, depreciation, etc. 4. Expected
profit margin-mark-up. Cost-plus pricing is very popular in retail trade and
wholesale trade. Some form of customary mark-up pricing is most practical in
trade, as items for sale are innumerable.
7) Psychological Pricing:
It is used to create an illusion of a bargain. It is a popular practice of setting the
prices at odd points, e.g. Rs.217.95, Rs. 299, Rs. 995, etc. This policy is
followed usually in consumer goods industry, e.g. Bata Shoe Company has
psychological pricing in shoe prices.
8) Premium Pricing :
Premium pricing is a mix of What the traffic will bear idea and the value for
money’ Marketer has a premium product, i.e., superior quality / good variety.
He uses best technology. He employs premium promotion programme. He has at
his disposal premium distribution process. Hence, he opts out for non-price
competition. Thus, he is ready to adopt premium pricing strategy.
MODERN THEORY OF FACTOR PRICING
The Modern theory of factor pricing states that the price of a factor inputs, Just
like the price of any other commodity, is determined by its demand and supply.
Factor-inputs are demanded by firms because these help in production of
different types of goods. Demand for factor inputs depends upon a number of
factors, like (i) the demand for the product that the factor-inputs help to produce
(ii) Productivity of the factor, and (iii) Prices of related substitute factors. More
generally, demand for a factor-input bears an inverse relation to its price ;
demand curve for a factor has a negative slope, as shown in diagram.
Factor-inputs are supplied by their owners, the households. Factor-owners
expect to be paid for their services. More generally, Factor-supply bears a direct
relation to its price, ie., supply of a factor goes up with an increase in its supply
and vice versa. Supply curve of a factor has a positive slope. Equilibrium price
of a factor, which determines its present level of earnings, is determined by
factor demand and factor-supply, as illustrated in the above diagram.
PRICE DETERMINATION UNDER PERFECT COMPETITION
Perfect competition :
Meaning:
Perfect competition is a market situation in which there are large number of
buyers and sellers engaged in buying and selling homogeneous products
respectively without any artificial restrictions. Perfect competition is an ideal
market structure rather than an actual one in reality.
Features of perfect Competition :
1. Large number of buyers and sellers.
2. Existence of homogeneous product.
3. Free entry and Exit of firms.
4. Perfect mobility of factors of production.
5. Perfect knowledge of market conditions among buyers and sellers.
6. Absence of transport costs.
Benefits of perfect competition:
1. Perfect competition permits the best and fullest utilisation of economic
resources.
2. It is an effective check on the sellers who aim at abnormal profit.
3. It protects the consumers against exploitation and so it is socially useful.
4. There is no need for state intervention to regulate production or prices.
Conditions of equilibrium under perfect competition:
1. Marginal Revenue (MR) must be equal to its marginal cost (MC)
2. Marginal Cost curve must cut the marginal revenue curve from below at the
equilibrium output.
Pricing under Perfect Competition:
Price under perfect competition is determined by the interaction of demand and
supply. such a price is called the ‘Equilibrium price’.
a) Demand Side:
The demand side is governed by the law of Demand based on the marginal
utility of the commodity to the buyers. So long as the marginal utility is higher
than the price, buyers will be demanding more. As a result, supply will increase.
But with additional purchases, the marginal utility will fall and ultimately, the
marginal utility will be equal to the price.
b) Supply side:
The supply side is governed by the law of supply. It is based on the cost of
production. The law of supply states that more will be supplied at higher price
and less on low price. If the price offered is lower than the marginal cost of
production, the producers will have to curtail supply and production. As a result,
demand remaining the same, price will rise again and will be equal to the
marginal cost.
Marshall’s view : Alfred Marshall has observed that “the price rests like the
keystone of an arch balanced in equilibrium between the two contending forces
of demand and supply to operate in such a way that a state of equilibrium is
attained”.
Prof. Silverman has clearly explained how equilibrium price is determined under
perfect
competition. “From the side of demand, the price of an article tends to equal the
marginal utility of the estimate of the marginal purchases, while from the side of
the supply, it tends to equal the marginal cost of production or the costs incurred
by the marginal firm. The point of coincidence between marginal utility and
marginal costs as measured in terms of money indicates the price.
Diagrammatic Illustration of Equilibrium Price :
The diagram shows interaction of demand and supply and how equilibrium price
is established. The curves D and S are the demand and supply curves. The two
curves intersect at point A. The corresponding price is OP1. At this price,
demand and supply are equal. There is no surplus or shortage.
At a higher price OP2, more is supplied but less is demanded. The supply is
large P2C. But the demand is low at such a higher price, it is only P2B. There is
excess supply of BC and the price come down. It is obvious that a higher price
prevails only for a short time and it is forced down when demand falls.
Similarly, low price also will prevail only for a short time. At P3 price, demand
is large. It is P3F. But supply is small. It is only P3E. There is excess demand of
EF. Therefore, the price goes up. The buyers try to buy more but the sellers try
to sell less. Thus, the price after rising or falling attains the equilibrium position
OP1.
MONOPOLY
Definition :
‘Monopoly is a market structure in which there is a single seller, there are no
close substitutes for the commodity it produces and there are barriers to entry’.
According to A.J.Braff, “Under pure monopoly there is a single seller in the
market.
The monopolists demand is market’s demand. The monopolist is a price maker.
Pure monopoly
suggests a non-substitute situation”.
In simple terms, a monopolist is the sole supplier and potential supplier of the
Industry’s
product. The firm and the industry coincide.
Characteristics of Monopoly :
The main features of monopoly as follows :
1. One Seller and a large number of buyers
2. There is an absence of competition.
3. No close substitutes.
4. Cross elasticity of demand for a monopolist’s product is zero in case
of pure monopoly and very low in the case of simple monopoly.
5. Difficult for new firms to enter.
6. The distinction between firm and industry disappear.
7. Control over the supply of the commodity.
Types of monopoly
There are various kinds of monopoly
1. Natural Monopoly
A natural monopoly is a special type of monopoly that arises due to economies
of scale.
Natural monopolies arise on account of concentration of raw materials in a
particular region. An example of natural monopoly is the nickel supply of
canada. Factors like climate, environment and nearness to market, may also
create natural monopolies.
2. Social monopoly :
Social monopolies are owned and managed by the government. The aim of this
monopoly is not profit, but to be of service to the people. Therefore, it is
sometimes called welfare monopoly.
Example : Railways, Electricity, Post and Telegraphs etc.
3. Private Monopoly :
A private monopoly is owned and operated by a private individual or companies
for the consideration of profit. Profit maximisation is the sole objective of such
monopolies.
4. Legal Monopoly :
Legal monopolies are conferred on certain firms and are protected by law for
them to enjoy for some given period of time, the fruits of their labour. The
special trade marks, copy rights and patents are the best examples of legal
monopoly.
5. Service Monopoly :
Monopoly may arise in services also. For example, there is only one doctor in a
particular locality who alone can perform the most difficult operation. He is in
the position of a monopolist.
6. Simple Monopoly :
A simple monopoly is one in which the monopolist will charge the same price
for a particular product from all customers.
7. Fiscal Monopoly :
Sometimes some activities like minting of coins or printing of currency will be
undertaken only by the government for various reasons. Such monopolies are
known as fiscal monopolies.
8. Discriminating Monopoly :
A discriminating monopoly is one in which different prices are charged for the
same product from different customers.
Example : Lawyers charge different rates from different clients.
9. Voluntary Monopolies :
Voluntary Monopolies are created to eliminate competition and to reap
abnormal profits.
(a) Cartel :
A cartel is a group of firms whose objective is to limit the scope of competitive
forces in the market. Example : OPEC (the organisation of petroleum exporting
countries).
(b) Trust :
When all the firms merge into one association, the monopoly is referred to as a
trust. The Associated Cement Companies (ACC) in India is an example of a
Trust.
(c) Holding Company :
A holding company is one which obtains a monopoly position by owing the
majority of shares in a company or a group of companies.
Advantages of Monopoly :
Following are the advantages of monopoly :
1. Large Scale Production. 2. No economic waste
3. Better bargaining capacity 4. Marketing economies
5. Promotes technology 6. Better treatment of labourers.
7. Avoids wasteful competition.
Evils of Monopoly :
Following are the evils of monopoly :
1. Very high price 2. Lower output
3. Exploitation of factors of production
4. Loss of consumer sovereignty. 5. Distribution of Resources
6. Problem to the government 7. Inflation
8. Inequality in wealth 9. Country affected
Price-Output Determination under Monopoly
Assumption :
The analysis of the determination of the price, output under monopoly is based
on the following assumptions.
1. There is only one seller or producer of a homogeneous product.
2. There are no close substitutes for the product.
3. There is pure competition in the factor market so that the price of each input
he buys is given to him.
4. The monopolist is a rational being who aims at maximum profit with the
minimum of costs.
5. There are many buyers on the demand side but none is in a position to
influence the price of the product by his individual actions. Thus, the price
of the product is given for the customer.
6. The monopolist does not charge discriminating price. He treads all
consumers alike and charges a uniform price for his product.
7. The monopoly price is uncontrolled. there are no restrictions on the power of
the monopolist.
8. There is no threat of entry of other firms.
Price output determination under monopoly :
Like a perfectly competitive firm, the monopolies tries to maximise his profits.
A monopolist will be in equilibrium when he produces that much amount of
output which yields maximum total profit. A monopolist is also in equilibrium
in short period when he incurs minimum loss. Under monopoly, for the
equilibrium and price determination there are two different conditions.
1. Marginal revenue must be equal to - marginal cost
2. MC must cut MR from below.
Short-Run Equilibrium
1) Super Normal Profit :
If the price determined by the monopolist is more than AC, he will get super
normal profits, the monopolist will produce upto the level where MC=MR. This
limit will indicate equilibrium output. It is explained in the following diagram.
In the above diagram, output is measured on X -axis, and price on Y-axis, SAC
and SMC are the short run average cost and Marginal cost curves while AR and
MR are the average revenue and marginal revenue curves respectively. The
monopolist is in equilibrium at point E because at point E both the conditions of
equilibrium are fulfilled ie., MR=MC and MC intersects the MR curve from
below. At this level of equilibrium the monopolist will produce OQ1 level of
output and sells it at OQ1 by CD per unit. Therefore, in this case total profits of
the monopolis will be equal to shaded area ABCD.
2) Long-Run Equilibrium :
Long-run is the period in which output can be changed by changing the factors
of production. In other words, all factors can be changed and monopolist would
choose that plant size which is most appropriate for specific level of output
where marginal revenue curve cuts the long-run marginal cost. This can be
shown with the help of diagram.
In the above diagram monopolist is in equilibrium at OM level of output. At
OM level of output marginal revenue is equal to long run marginal cost and the
monopolist fixes OP price. HM is the long run average cost. Price OP being
more than LAC i.e., HM Fetch the monopolist super normal profits.
Accordingly, the monopolist earns JM-HM = JH Super normal profit per unit.
His total super normal profits will be equal to shaded area PJHP1.
Comparison between Monopoly and Perfect Competition
Similiarities
1. Both are extreme cases of market situations.
2. In both the markets, identical commodities are sold.
3. Profit maximisation is of the same process MR=MC.
4. Large number of buyers.
Differences: Monopoly Perfect Competition
1. One Firm Large number of firms
2. Absolute control over supply. No control over supply
3. The firm is price maker The firm is price taker
4. Price is higher than marginal revenue. Price is equal to marginal
revenue.
5. Price is higher than marginal cost Price is equal to marginal
cost.
6. No new firms can enter the industry. New firms can enter freely.
7. Supernormal profits earned in the long-run Only normal profit is earned
in the long-run. also.
8. Differential pricing is possible. Uniform price.
9. Excess capacity exists. Optimum Capacity
Production.
10. Short-run and long-run equilibrium are the Short-run equilibrium is
different
same. from long-run equilibrium.
Discriminating Monopoly
Meaning :
Discriminating monopoly is different from simple monopoly. In simple
monopoly, only one price is charged for all the consumers. But sometimes, in
order to maximise his revenue, the monopolist can sell the same product at
different prices. This is known as Price Discrimination or Differential Pricing.
Definitions :
Prof. Watson, “In general, Price discrimination means that a firm charges
two or more prices for the same thing at the same time”.
In the words of J.S.Bain, “Price discrimination refers strictly to the practice
by a seller of simultaneously charging different prices for the same goods”.
Types of Price Discrimination :
There are different types of price discrimination.
1. Personal Discrimination :
Price discrimination is personal when different prices are charged from
different buyers on the basis of their ability to pay. For example: a doctor may
charge higher fees from a rich patient and charge lower fees from a poor patient
for the same services rendered.
2. Use Discrimination :
A higher price may be charged when a service is used for one purpose and
different price for another use. This means that different uses are distinguished
and that customers can afford to pay more for one use than the other. For
example : an electric company can charge lower price for electricity supplied to
industries and agriculture and higher price for domestic purposes.
3. Place Discrimination :
It is very common in international trade. The same commodity is sold at
higher price in the local market and at a cheaper price in Foreign markets. It is
called ‘dumping’. The purpose of charging a high price in the home market is to
offset the loss incurred by selling the commodity at cheaper price in the foreign
markets.
4. Time Discrimination :
The telephone department charges different rates at different time-high rates
during day time and low rates during night time. The railways charge low rates
during summer for hill station visitors.
Objectives of Discriminating monopoly :
1. To take away consumer’s surplus
2. To dispose off occasional surplus
3. To develop new market.
4. To make full use of excess capacity.
5. To make maximum monopoly profits.
6. To anticipate and prevent any competition.
7. To increase sales.
Necessary conditions for price Discrimination :
The monopolists can practice price discrimination only under certain
favourable conditions. Successful Price discrimination depends upon the
following conditions.
i) Multiple Demand Elasticities
ii) Sealed Markets.
iii) More than one market.
iv) Imperfect market.
Advantages of Price Discrimination :
1. Price discrimination promotes more production. Under simple monopoly, the
monopolist will sell restricted quantities of commodities at high prices.
Under discriminating monopoly, he sells more to more people at low prices.
2. In the larger interests of the people, price discrimination can be justified. In
the absence of differential pricing certain services are not available at all.
3. Price discrimination enables a price being charged from every consumer on
the basis of his ability to pay and thus meeting the total cost of production.
4. Price discrimination can reduce inequalities of income and wealth in the
country.
Equilibrium under Discriminating Monopoly
A discriminating monopolist like an ordinary monopolist, aims at maximum
profits. To achieve this, he has to divide the market on the basis of elasticity of
demand. To earn maximum profits, two conditions have to be fulfilled.
1. The marginal revenue in all the markets must be the same.
2. The marginal revenue in all the markets must also be equal to the marginal
cost of the entire output of the monopolist.
The Figure below shows price determination under discriminating
monopoly.
The Demand curve DA in the market A is less elastic while the demand
curve in the market B, DB is more elastic, MRA and MRB are the
corresponding marginal revenue curves, which adding together, we get the
combined marginal revenue curve CMR. We assume that the product is
homegeneous and therefore have a single marginal cost curve for the whole
output, irrespective of the market in which it is sold. Hence the monopolist will
maximise profits by equating the marginal cost of the whole output with the
marginal revenue and produces the total output OQ. Then he sells his product in
the two markets on the basis of the elasticity of demand. In market A, the price
is high because the demand is less elastic. In the market B, the price is less as
the demand is relatively elastic. Thus the monopolist fixes output and price
according to the difference in elasticity of demand and distributes the output in
such a way as to maximise profits. As a result, we have,
i) Total output = OQ1 + OQ2 = OQ
ii) OQ1 is sold at price OP1 ; OQ is sold at price OP2.
Monopolistic Competition
Definition : Monopolistic competition may be defined as the market setting in
which a large number of sellers sell differentiated products.
Prof. “Edward Chamberlin” of the Harvard university is the architect and
builder of the theory of monopolistic competition. He has revolutionised
economics theory by developing this concept and explaining the most significant
features of such a market situation. Today, we find that a few large business
firms produce nearly all the soaps, cigarettes, toothpastes, scooters, etc. None of
these companies produces the entire market supply that if one firm should step
production, the others could raise their prices because the total supply would be
less.
Features (Characteristics) :
The following are the features of monopolistic competition.
1. Large sized firms.
2. Product differentiation
3. Selling cost.
4. Free Entry and Exit of firms.
5. Independent Pricing Policy
6. High Cross Elasticity of Demand.
1) Product Differentiation :
Product differentiation is one of the most important features of monopolistic
competition. Since each seller in interested to sell more of his product, he has to
distinguish his products from the others. There are two bases of product
differentiation.
First, differentiation of products is based upon certain characteristics of the
product itself such as exclusive patented features, trade marks and trade names,
peculiarities of packages or differences in quality, design and colour.
Secondly, the differentiation is based upon the conditions surrounding the
sale of the product. These conditions include the convenience of the seller’s
location, his reputation for fair dealing, courtesy and efficiency. Matches,
cigarettes, tinned products of various kinds are examples of product
differentiation.
2) Selling costs :
The concept of selling costs has revolutionised the theory of value. Prof.
Chamberlin, the architect of the theory of monopolistic competition has done a
significant contribution to the development of the concept.
Meaning :
All expenses incurred by a firm to boost the sales can be considered as
selling costs. They are intended to increase the demand of a particular product.
In the words of prof. chamberlin, “Cost incurred in order to alter the position
or the shape of the demand curve for a product”.
Examples of Selling Costs :
All expenses by a firm on propaganda, salesmanship and publicity can be
considered as selling costs. Such selling efforts include giving free samples, free
service, door-to-door canvassing and display. Selling costs include expenses on
advertisements.
Types of selling Costs :
There are two types of selling costs :
i) Informative selling costs.
ii) Manipulative selling costs.
PRICE DETERMINATION UNDER MONOPOLLISTIC
COMPETITION - SHORT - RUN
Every Producer, whether he is a pure competitor, monopolist or anywhere
between the two, aims at maximising his profits. He will take into consideration
his cost and revenue. The maximum profits can be earned at the point where
marginal revenue is equal to the marginal cost of production. The firm under
monopolistic compettition is no exception to this profit maximising formula.
The figure shows a monopolistically competitive firm in equilibrium
producing optimum output and making maximum profits at least possible cost.
Monopolistically competitive firm - Suffering loss
A firm under monopolistic competition can suffer loss if it has only a very
few customers. Under such circumstances the average revenue will be much less
than the average cost and the firm will lose. The figure below shows a firm
suffering loss.
The equilibrium point is T where MC and MR intersect each other. The firm
sells OM output at PM price. The costs per unit is also PM. The revenue is P.
The average cost curve AC is to the left of average revenue curve AR. The firm
suffers a total loss shown by the shaded area PQRS.
Price Determination under Long-run. “Group Equilibrium”.
In the long period, the demand and cost curves of the individual firm in the
‘group’ or industry will change their position. The demand for the product of the
firm will become more elastic. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the
abnormal profits earned by a few firms in the short period would attract new
firms which will fix lower prices than the price charged by the existing firms.
Secondly, the new firms may also offer close substitutes for the product which
was successfully sold by the existing firms. This would naturally compel the
existing firms to reduce price. As a result of such keen competition, price falls.
But then the average cost goes up as a result of demand on factors of production.
Gradually, the super normal profits once enjoyed by a few firms in the short run
vanish and in the long period normal profit are earned by the firms. The figure
below illustrates long-run group equilibrium under monopolistic competition.
The Figure shows the equilibrium position of a firm. It produces OM output
and sells at PM price. The average revenue curve AR is tangent to the average
cost curve AC at P. The firm is making only normal profit. In other words, super
normal or excess profits vanish in the long period.
It must be remembered that disappearance of the excess profits will
generally take place and most of the firms will earn only normal profits. This is
what takes place when ‘heroic assumption’ such as identical cost and demand
conditions are made. If we relax these assumptions, different firms will have
different cost and demand conditions and some firms will make abnormal profits
even in the long run despite the entry of new firms with close substitutes. But
such cases are very small and we can say that under long period generally the
excess profits vanish and normal profit prevails.
OLIGOPOLY
Oligopoly is competition among a few sellers. The term ‘oligopoly’ has been
derived from to Greek words, ‘Oligoi’ meaning ‘few’ and ‘Pollein’ meaning
‘Sellers’. Oligopoly thus means few sellers. It is the most dominant form of
market in the present day world.
According to Stigler, Oligopoly is “that situation in which a firm bases its
market policy in part on the expected behaviour of a few close rivals”.
Types of Oligopoly
1. Pure Oligopoly :
If the products of the firms are homogeneous, it is called pure oligopoly.
purchases have little cause for preferring the product of one firm to that of
another on any basis except price. Examples: Cooking Gas, Cement, Baby Food
etc.
2. Differentiated Oligopoly :
Usually, oligopolistic firms sell differentiated products. The products of all
the firms are very close substitutes for each other. Example fiat and Ambassador
cars, Talcom powder etc. They have high cross elasticity of demand. But each
product has its own special features. It is also called Imperfect oligopoly.
3. Competitive Oligopoly :
When the firms under oligopoly compete with each other, there is
competitive Oligopoly.
It means that there is no mutual understanding between the sellers in their
output and price policy.
4. Collusive Oligopoly :
When the oligopolistic firm combine together to fix output and prices, there
exists collusive, oligopoly.
5. Partial Oligopoly :
When the market is dominated by a price leader, it is called partial
oligopoly.
6. Full Oligopoly :
In an Oligopoly market, where there is no price leader, it is called full
oligopoly.
Features of Oligopoly (Characteristics) :
Following are the main features of oligopoly :
(i) Interdependence
(ii) Uncertainty
(iii)Selling cost.
(iv) Price leadership (Dominating price leader and Barometric price leader)
(v) Price Rigidity.
Pricing under Oligopoly :
In 1939, Paul Sweezy has introduced the kinked demand curve’ as an
operational tool for the determination of the equilibrium in oligopolistic
markets. He has used the kinked demand curve model to explain the
phenomenon of ‘Price Rigidity’ under oligopoly conditions. Price rigidity is a
situation when there is no inclination on the part of the sellers to change the
price of the products being sold.
The kinked demand curve model of price rigidity is based on the following
assumptions :
1. There is an established market price at which all the sellers are satisfied.
2. Each seller’s attitude depends on the attitude of his rivals.
3. MC curve passes through the dotted portion of the MR curve so that
changes in marginal cost do not affect price and output.
4. An attempt of every seller to push up his sales by reducing the price will
be counteracted by other sellers.
5. If the seller raises the price, others will not follow him rather they will
stick to the prevailing price.
The following diagram illustrates the kinked demand curve model of
price determination under oligopoly.
In the above figure, dKD is the kinked demand curve of an oligopolistic
firm; OP is the prevailing market price; and OM is the equilibrium level of
output. If an oligopolistic seller (or firm) increases the price of the product
above OP, this will reduce his sales because the rivals are not expected to follow
his price. This is because the dK portion of the kinked demand curve is elastic
and the corresponding dA portion of the MR curve is positive.
On the other hand, if the seller reduces the price of the product below OP,
his rivals will also reduce their price. Though he increases his sales, his profits
would be less than before. The reason is that kD Portion of the kinked demand
curve below OP is less elastic and the corresponding part of MR curve below B
is negative.
Thus in both the price-rising and price-reducing situations, the oligopolistic
seller will be loser. Therefore he will stick to the prevailing market price OP
which remains rigid. Price will be stable so long as the MC curve cuts the MR
curve in the dotted portion (AB) of the kinked demand curve.
Thus the oligopoly price OP is determined for the OM level of output at the
point of kink K.
The equilibrium of the firm under oligopoly is thus defined by the point of
the kink k because any point to the left of the kink, MC is below the MR while
to the right of the kink, MC is larger than the MR. Thus the total profit is
maximised at the point of the kink K. However, this equilibrium is not
necessarily defined by the intersection of the MR and MC curve. So long as MC
curve passes through the dotted protion (AB) of the MR curve, the oligopolistic
seller maximises his profits by producing and selling OM level of output.
IMPERFECT COMPETITION
Perfect competition and pure monopoly do not exist in the real world. We
have only imperfect competition prevailing in the real world. It takes different
form such as monopoly, monopolistic competition and oligopoly.
The concept of Imperfect competition was first described by Prof. Piero
Sraffa in 1926. Several other eminent economists like Pigou, Robins, Robertson
and Kahn contributed to the development of the concept. But the credit of
developing the concept to the fullest extent goes to two economists namely,
Edward Chamberlin and Joan Robinson. Prof. Chamberlin is the author of the
famous book “the theory of Monopolistic Competition” and Joan Robinson is
famous by his book “The Economics of Imperfect competition” We may point
out that in 1993 these books were published and before that the classical concept
of perfect competition dominated economic theory.
Features of Imperfect Competition :
Following are the main features of Imperfect competition.
i) Small number of firms.
ii) Differentiated products.
iii) Control over supply and price.
iv) High-pressure advertisement.
v) Absence of knowledge about market conditions.
vi) Presence of Efficient and Inefficient Firms.
vii) Transport cost.
viii) Presence of excess capacity.
ix) Inferior products
x) Special services.
Wastes of Imperfect competition :
It is pointed out that perfect competition promotes economic welfare through
efficient utilisation of resources. Resource application takes place in an ideal
manner and the society is supposed to get all the benefits like full employment
ideal output, superior goods at cheap price etc. Under Imperfect competition, it
is remarked that there are many economic wastes.
1. There is a huge waste of resources in unnecessary advertisement. Firms
engage themselves in cut-throat competition which is an economic waste.
2. Firms as already pointed out do not produce the ideal output and stop
production before reaching the optimum point. Therefore there is economic
waste of resources. The machinery and plant could be utilised fully but
purposely, the producer restrict output.
3. As a result of restricted output, the society is penalised by very high prices. It
leads to reduction of economic welfare.
4. Enormous amounts are spent ‘on’ transport cost. It is a waste.
5. Not only the price is higher but the product is also inferior. This is because of
the existence of inefficient firms.
All these show that under Imperfect competition there is lot of economic
waste.
PRICING METHODS
The following are the major pricing methods :
1. The cost plus or full-cost pricing.
2. Pricing for a rate of return.
3. Marginal cost pricing.
4. Going rate pricing.
5. Customary prices.
6. Differential pricing.
1. Cost plus or full cost pricing method :
Full cost pricing is the most common method adopted for pricing. In this
method, price is adjusted to cover costs of material, labour and overhead and a
pre determined percentage for profit. This percentage differs from firm to firm,
industry to industry and even among products of the same firm.
Advantages :
1. This method helps in establishing fair and plausible prices.
2. It can be applied by a single product firm or a multi product firm.
3. When the selling price is predetermined, the product design can be
determined very easily.
4. In practice, firms are very uncertain about the demand for their product and
the
probable response to change in price. This method is then a fool-proof
method.
5. It prevents frequent price fluctuations.
6. It may protect the firms’ against price wars.
2. Pricing for a Rate of Return
Under this method, price is fixed depending on costs. The price is similar to
that of full cost pricing. The only difference is setting the mark up. Under the
rate of return pricing method, a price is fixed by a manufacturer so as to give
him a fixed return on his investment. Prices are adjusted to changes in costs.
With this purpose three popular policies are followed.
(i) Revise prices to maintain constant percentage mark up over costs.
(ii) Revise prices to maintain profits as a constant percentage of total sales.
(iii)Revise prices to keep a constant return on invested capital.
The following formula is used to calculate the desired rate of return on
investment.
Percentage mark Capital employed
up on cost = ------------------------- x planned rate of return
Total Annual cost
Advantages :
1. This method is more suitable for products which can be sold in bulk
quantity.
2. It is simple method.
3. When the turnover is quick a low rate of return can be fixed and more profits
can be obtained.
4. This method will succeed if a firm is able to set and control its price and
estimate its sales.
3. Marginal Cost pricing :
Under this method, prices are fixed on the basis of variable costs. Fixed
costs are ignored. Here the firm seeks to maximise its total contribution to fixed
costs and profits.
Advantages :
1. This method is useful for firms to face competition.
2. This method is highly useful for public utility undertaking. In public utility
concerns lower prices are charged. This helps to maximise social welfare.
3. Marginal cost pricing is more useful for pricing over the life cycle of a
product.
4. Marginal cost reflect future when compared to present cost levels.
5. During the depression period this method is workable.
Marginal cost pricing is more effective than full cost pricing in view of two
characteristics of modern business.
(i) Marginal cost pricing is the most suitable method of short run pricing.
(ii) Fixed costs and demand conditions may change from one short run to
another. Profit will be maximised in the long run only by maximising
contribution in each short run.
4. Going Rate Pricing :
Under this method, though the firm has the power to fix its own price,
instead of doing so it will adjust its own price policy to the general pricing
structure prevailing in the industry. This means that the firm does not have a
price policy of its own, instead it imitates the price charged by others in the
industry.
This method is usually happening in oligopolistic and monopolistic
competitive market situations. This method is the least costly and least
disruptive to industrial harmony. This method is not confined only to small
business firms. Large concerns may even follow a price set by a price leader.
Advantages :
1. Where costs are difficult to be measured, the going rate represents the
collective wisdom of the industry.
2. Adopting the going rate policy will avoid price war among rival firms. eg.
Oligopoly.
3. A firm can be a price maker under this method.
5. Customary Prices :
Under this method, firms accept the price prevailing in the long run. Such
prices which last for a long period are called customary prices. Unless costs
change sufficiently, customary prices may not change, certain kinds of goods
come for sales in customary prices.
Suppose a product is introduced in a new mode. If the firm comes forward to
reduce the price, the consumers think that the standard of the product has gone
down. Hence in order to remove such wrong feelings, a firm charges only
customary price for its products.
We cannot always think that a firm cannot change the customary price.
A producer can examine the price policy of rival firms and he can think of
customers mind and resort to measures which may change customary prices.
6. Dual Pricing :
Dual pricing is a method of pricing of a product under which the product
may have two prices. One is the controlled price fixed by the government.
Anther one is the market price. Usually determined on the basis of cost of
production and a reasonable margin of profit.
The controlled price is generally lower than the market price in cases where
the purpose is to protect the interests of the poor and the weaker sections of the
society. The controlled price may also be higher than the market price in cases
where the purpose is to protect domestic industries against foreign competition.
Pricing of sugar and cement in India is a good example of dual pricing. Dual
pricing is thus a price control of price regulation system.
7. Differential Pricing :
Differential pricing means charging different prices for different customers
for the same
product. This is actually price discrimination. This is applicable to monopoly
pricing. Even if there is no monopoly, differential pricing is possible. Due to
wide disparities in income, differential pricing is possible. This is due to
difference in elasticity of demand. As a result higher prices can be changed for
richer consumers and lower prices for poorer consumers.
The producer has different goals in adopting differential pricing.
i) To reach a particular sector of the market through price differentials.
ii) To achieve profitable market segmentation.
iii) To encourage new user or to attract new customers.
iv) To adjust to competitive situations.
v) To allow seasonal discounts and to achieve reduction of production cost.
8. Recommended Pricing.
Recommended prices are normally treated as maximum prices, both by
retailers as well as consumers. Retailers sometimes overstep recommended
prices. The consumer is also reluctant to pay a higher price because an average
consumer considers the printed price as the maximum one.
Recent studies indicate that recommended prices are welcomed by retailers.
If the recommended price is fixed at a low level, it will act as a disincentive to
retailers to stock the product because they will fail to earn even their normal
profit. On the other hand, fixing a high recommended price gives an
opportunity to the retailers to offer a great price reduction to consumers. But
unfortunately this might no doubt create in the mind of the consumers about the
quality of the product if price reductions are frequently made.
9. Administered Pricing :
Administered prices are prices fixed by the government normally on the
basis of cost plus a stipulated margin of profit. Commodities sold at the fair
price shops under the public distribution system are also subject to administered
prices.
10. Pricing over the life cycle of a product :
No product can have distinctiveness over the entire life period. After a
certain time, the distinctiveness of a product starts declining, At the last stage of
a product’s life, the whole distinctive character is lost and the product becomes a
common commodity. The innovation of a new product and its degeneration into
a common product is known as “Life cycle of a product”. There are five distinct
stages in the life cycle of a product.
(i) Introduction :
At this stage, the product enters the market. People have no knowledge of
the new product.
ii) Growth :
In this stage, the product is pushed in the market with quick demands and
sales. If consumers are satisfied, the firms earns increased profits.
iii) Maturity :
In this stage its growth continues but with declining rate. The number of
consumers go down.
iv) Saturation :
Sales reach the highest point. There is little additional demand.
v) Decline :
The sales come down due to better substitutes in the market.
The life cycle may be renewed. For that cycle to take shape, the following
favourable
conditions must emerge :
i) Discovery of new user for products
ii) The coming in of new uses for the product.
iii) Introduction of new features.
III. PROMOTION
Promotion is a form of communication with an additional element of
pursuasion to accept ideas, products, services and hence pursuasive
communication becomes the heart of promotion, the third element of
marketing mix. In essence, promotion is the spark plug of our marketing mix
and an important marketing strategy. People must know that the right product at
the right price is available at the right place. It is said that in a competitive
market without promotion nothing can be sold.
1) What is Promotion ?
Promotion is the process of marketing communication to inform,
persuade, remind and influence consumers in favour of our product or service.
Promotion has three specific purposes. It communicates marketing information
to consumers, users and resellers. Promotion persuades and convinces the buyer
and influences his/her behaviour to take the desired action. Promotion has been
defined as “the co-ordinated self-initiated efforts to establish channels of
information and persuasion to facilitate or foster the sale of goods or services, or
the acceptance of ideas or points of view”. It is a form of non-price competition.
Promotion is persuasive communication to inform customers of the existence of
products to persuade and convince them that those products have want satisfying
capabilities.
The promotion mix includes four ingredients, namely 1. advertising, 2.
publicity, 3. personal selling, and 4. all forms of sales promotion.
1. Advertising : It is defined as any paid form of non-personal presentation and
promotion of ideas, goods and services by an identified sponsor. It is impersonal
salesmanship for mass selling, a means of mass communication.
2. Publicity : It is non-personal stimulation of demand for a product, service or a
business unit by placing commercially significant news about it in a publication
or obtaining favourable presentation of it upon radio, television, or stage that is
not paid for by the sponsor.
3. Personal Selling : It is the best means of oral and face-to-face communication
and presentation with the prospect for the purpose of making sales. There may
be one prospect or a number of prospects in the personal conversation.
4. Sales Promotion : It covers those marketing activities other than advertising,
publicity and personal selling that stimulate consumer purchasing and dealer
effectiveness. Such activities are displays, shows, exhibitions, demonstrations,
and many other non-routine selling efforts at the point of purchase. Sales
promotion tries to complement the other means of promotion given below.
All kinds of promotion play the role of communication channels between
the marketer and the consumer. Promotion as an element of marketing mix has
three broad objectives: (a) information, (b) persuasion, (c) reminding. The
overall objective of promotion is, influencing the buyer behaviour and his
predispositions (needs, attitudes, goals, beliefs values and preferences).
Four promotion mix elements have a definite role in all stages of the
selling process. Publicity is more effective in the awareness stage. Advertising
gradually becomes less and less effective. Personal selling becomes more and
more effective as interpersonal interation assumes increasing importance.
Today, promotion is not regarded as the sole tool of marketing
communications. We have now the wider concept of the term ‘marketing
communication’.
Thus, all 4 ps, (product, price, promotion and place of distribution)
communicate and act as senders of marketing messages.
2) The Process of Communication in Marketing :
There are three essential parts of communication, namely, the source,
message and receiver.
Marketing communication involves sharing of meaning, information,
and concepts by the source and the receiver about products and services and
about the firm selling them. Marketing communication is undertaken by
marketers through the devices of promotion. namely, advertising, publicity,
salesmanship and sales promotion.
The effective communication occurs when a sender (source) sends a
message and a receiver responds to the message in a manner which satisfies the
sender. Both must have identical meaning of the message.
Effective communication is equal to: receipt of the message plus
understanding plus acceptance plus action. In marketing action means decision
to purchase.
In marketing management, the source or communicator is the marketer
who desires to promote his product. He attempts to deliver a message to a
receiver. He can deliver the message in many ways. All forms of promotion are
media or channels of communicating or sending the message. The receiver or
audience is the target market segment. i.e., the group of consumers for whom the
message is sent. Message is received and interpreted by consumers and if their
predispositions become favourable, they decide to purchase. Feedback is the
reverse flow of communication from the consumer to the marketer.
When the message is transmitted through personal salesmanship, the
seller may have prompt feedback from the receiver. The sender can find out how
the message is being received as we have face-to-face direct communication
through sales talk and conversation.
3) Main Purpose of Promotion :
The overall purpose of promotion is to influence buyer behaviour and
alter the location and shape of the consumer demand curve in favour of the
products. All promotional efforts, i.e., marketing communications are directed to
alter the demand curve or buyer behaviour.
4. The Promotion Process (Persuasive Communication)
The hierarachy of behavioural effects on the consumer decision-making
process has these stages as : 1. awareness, 2. knowledge, 3. liking, 4. preference,
5. conviction, and 6. action.
Promotion is a systematic attempt to move forward step by step
prospects from a stage of unawareness to awareness, then to knowledge and
liking, then to preference and conviction anf finally to action (purchase) or a
positive behavioural response.
We can think of three distinct kinds of consumer response to promotion :
1. awareness and knowledge emphasizing cognitive response 2. changes
attitudes, emphasizing affective response. 3. new behaviour indicating
motivational response.
5) Promotion Strategy :
When marketers resort to promotion or persuasive communication in
marketing, we have a kind of the promotion square. It has four sides of equal
importance, namely 1. The product described in the marketing communication.
2. The prospect to be converted into a customer through persuasion and
influence by promotion. 3. The seller or the sponsor who undertakes promotion,
and 4. The channel or the route along which the product will move from
marketer to buyer.
Product Buyer
Promotion
Square
Company Channel
The promotion strategy will depend upon these four sides. The
promotion strategy deals with the following decisions : 1. the blend of
promotional activities (advertising, publicity,
personal selling and sales promotion). 2. the amount allocated for the various
forms of promotion particularly to the advertising media such as press, radio,
television, and so on, 3. the kind of promotion to be used. The interdependencies
of all kinds of promotion demand an integrated approach to promotion mix.
i) The Product : The product is one of the factors determining the form of
promotion. Toys, Toilet Soaps and Cosmetics are effectively shown on
television.
ii) The Buyer : If the marketers are to provide realistic solutions to the problem
of buyers, they must know their customers their needs and desires, their
attitudes, values, aspirations and expectations.
iii) The Company : The firm has a unique public image in the market. The
firm’s image must be closely associated with promotional strategy so that its
goodwill can be exploited. Corporate advertisements usually emphasize more on
the character, reputation, reliability and responsibility of the marketing firm.
iv) The Channel Choice : The promotional strategy also depends on the channel
or route through which products of the firm flow to consumers. There are pull
and push strategies in promotion.
6) Promotion Decisions :
Once the marketing plan is ready we can develop a total promotion
programme to approach the target audiences. Budget for each element of
promotion is prepared.
Promotion objectives must be set before we decide on message contents,
layout and delivery of message. Contents and layout decisions are based on
strengths and weaknesses of the various media vehicles. Delivery decisions are
based on the needs of carrying particular types of messages. Promotion
objectives, message design, message delivery and promotion budget are the
constituents of promotion programme. All these are highly inter-related
decisions areas.
IV SALES PROMOTION
Sales promotion is an important instrument in marketing to lubricate the
marketing efforts. Today, sales promotion is a necessity and not merely a luxury
or a fashion. It is not an expenditure; it is an investment which can pay rich
dividends. It is an integral part of the marketing effort.
1) What is Sales Promotion ?
Sales promotion is referred to the promotional activities other than
personal salesmanship, advertising and publicity which stimulate consumer
purchasing and dealer effectiveness e.g. displays, exhibitions and showrooms,
demonstration, coupon, premium, contests are the non current selling efforts not
in the ordinary routine. Sales promotion is a bridge covering the gap between
advertising and personal selling, the two wings of sales promotion is a bridge
covering the gap between advertising and personal selling, the two wings of
sales promotion.
2. Sales promotion objectives : 1. to increase buying responses by ultimate
consumers.
2. to increase selling efforts and intensity by dealers as well as by sales
personnel. 3. to supplement and co-ordinate efforts of Advertising / Personal
Selling.
3. Forms of Sales Promotion : 1. calling attention to new products and product
improvements, 2. informing buyers of new brand and new package 3. Improving
customer patronage and brand loyalty, 4. obtaining dealer outlets, 5. securing
additional shelf-space and added display, 6. creating talking points for sale
persons, 7. meeting competition. 8. Improving market share.
4) Strengths of Sales Promotion : (Advantages)
1. It stimulates positive attitudes toward the product. 2. It gives extra
incentive to the
customer to make a purchase. 3. It gives direct inducement to take immediate
action now rather than later. 4. It has flexibility and it can be used at any stage of
a new product introduction.
5) Limitations of Sales Promotion :
1. Sales promotion have temporary and short life not exceeding three
months. Sales promotion along cannot build up brand loyalty. 2. Sales
promotions are only supplementary devices to supplement selling efforts of
other promotion tools. 3. They are non-recurring in their use. They have seldom
reuse values. 4) Advertising agencies accord low status to sales promotion. 5.
Too many sales promotion may affect brand image.
6) Kinds of Sales Promotion :
There are two kinds of sales promotion. i) Consumer Sales Promotion ii)
Dealer Sales Promotion
1) Consumer Sales Promotion : These devices are : 1. Sampling, usually called
consumer sampling. Free samples are given to consumers to introduce a new
product or to expand the market. The consumers can try the product. 2.
Demonstrations or instructions educating the consumers in the manner of using
the product. 3. A coupon is a certificate that reduces price.
a) The Quiz/Contest Craze :
The basic strategy in contests is to provide an extra-incentive to the
consumer for buying a product.
Contests are used to reach short-term sales goals. If properly designed,
they can achieve other objectives as well.
Publicity / Public Relations
I. Publicity :
Publicity is also called marketing public relations. Publicity is not paid
for by the organisation. Publicity comes from news reporters, columnists and
journalist people. It comes to the receiver as the truth rather than as a
commercial. Public relations and publicity taken together become the fourth
major ingredient of promotion mix. These activities are, however, not
controllable by the firm. Every firm tries to create a good public relations so as
to give good publicity.
Under the social marketing concept, publicity and public relations are
assuming unique importance in the firm’s promotion mix.
II. Public Relations :
Public relations have now become an important marketing function. The
total process of building goodwill towards business enterprises and securing a
bright public image of the company is called public relations. It creates a
favourable atmosphere for conducting business. There are 4 groups of public i)
customers ii) share holders
iii) workers iv) the community. The marketers should have the best possible
relation with these groups. Public relations complement advertising by creating
product and service credibility. Effecting marketing communication is not
possible without establishing and maintaining mutual understanding between the
company and its customers. The lubricant making the wheel of marketing is
public relations. Bright image is created and maintained only by public relations.
Liberal aid in all social welfare projects enhances the public image of the
marketer.
III. Marketing Communication Process :
1. It presents a set of messages to a target market through numerous media.
2. The message try to create a favourable response from the market (with the
help of unique sales propositions) towards the company’s total product offering.
3. The company tries to get back adequate feedback the consumers which points
out their response.
4. The feedback enables the company to improve and modify its total product
offering.
5. Elements of Marketing Communication : 1. Sender of the message also
called the
communicator, 2. message in the form of commercial ideas, sales story,
advertising copy, package print and label etc., 3. channel or media, the vehicle
carrying the message, a sales person an advertisement, sales literature, phone,
television, radio, press etc.,
4. receiver a prospect, customer, reseller, purchase influencer, the audience or
destination, 5. feedback in the form of a response, reaction, counter-proposal
called feed back from the receiver to sender. Feedback improves the
effectiveness of communication. 6. noise or obstacles reducing the effectiveness
of communication process.
6. The company is not only the source or sender of market messages but also a
receiver of market responses.
7. As a sender of messages, the company communicates with the market not
only through promotional tools but also through product, price and place or
point of sale (the retail store) as well.
8. Market responses are collected by the company through marketing research /
information system.
9. All the four ‘Ps’ of the marketing-mix are now recognised as components of
company’s communication mix. Promotion is the vital means of
communication.
V. PERSONAL SELLING
Personal selling refers to oral face to face interaction or conversation
between a sales representative and prospective customer for the purpose of
making sales. Personal selling is more effective in the trial stage of the purchase
process.
Pederson and Wright suggest that salesmanship is “the process whereby
the seller ascertains and activates the need or wants of the buyer and satisfies
these needs or wants to the mutual, continuous advantage of both the buyer and
seller”. This definition of salesmanship is customer-oriented. personal selling is
a two-way rather than one-way communication.
1) Features of Salesmanship - (Personal selling):
1. High Pressure Salesmanship : Growth of consumerism and emergence of
buyer’s market also indicate that high pressure salesmanship has outlived its
utility.
2. Salesmanship is Persuasion : Salesmanship involves the ability to influence
or persuade people. It is the skill in handling people which makes for a
successful salesman.
3. Salesmanship is Winning the Buyer’s Confidence : Modern salesmanship
does not use doubtful methods of influencing buyer. Modern salesmanship aims
at winning the confidence of the buyer by providing a solution to the buyer’s
problem, by persuading him and educating him.
4. Salesmanship Aims at Providing Service to the Buyer : Salesmanship aims
at serving the customer, by using the knowledge and ability to provide the best
available solution to the buyer’s problem.
5. Salesmanship Aims at Mutual Benefit : Salesmanship helps him in obtaining
the maximum return for the money he spends. It enables the producer to produce
more, to increase his sales and his profits.
6. Salesmanship is an Education Process : Salesmanship education people
about their needs.
7. Salesmanship is a Creative Process : Salesmanship is responsible for
creation of demand (not through a problem-solving approach. It starts with
customer knowledge. It studies customer needs and problems through
customer’s viewpoint.
2) The Modern Concept of Salesmanship
The modern concept of salesmanship, on the other hand, is based on the
idea of service. Modern salesmanship is creative in approach. The modern
salesmanship tries to create need, awareness of these needs and uses
resourcefulness and imagination to persuade customers. It uses the problemsolving
approach to ensure customer satisfaction.
3) Types of Salesman :
There are three fields of salesmanship
1. Industrial salesmanship, 2. Merchant salesmanship, and 3. Consumer
salesmanship.
1. Industrial Salesmanship (Business Marketing) :
Industrial salesmanship may need a technical background in engineering
or chemistry to understand the problem and know the language of technically
trained purchasing agents. Industrial salesman may represent manufacturers or
wholesalers or agents.
2. Merchant Salesmanship (Wholesale Selling) :
Merchant salesmanship involves quantity selling of all types of customer
goods (convenience, shopping and specialty goods) to resellers. They operate in
the consumer goods market as well as in industrial goods market. The customers
of merchant salesman are : 1. Wholesalers, 2. Distributors, 3. Retailers, 4. Cooperatives,
5. Institutions, and
6. Industrial buyers. They operate mainly in the resale market. Merchant
salesman also operate in the service markets for selling services (eg) advertising
communication. The merchant salesman acts a salesman of manufactures selling
direct to wholesalers or distributors and merchandise to numerous dealers and
retailers.
We have four varieties of merchant salesman : i) Speciality salesman
ii) Missionary salesman, iii) Creative salesman, and iv) Detail salesman.
(i) Speciality Salesman : He is called upon to sell consumer specialities, such as
vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, cosmetics, books, etc., as well as business goods,
such as industrial products, material supplies etc.
(ii) Missionary Salesman : Missionary salesman are responsible for promoting
sales and creation of demand. They help merchants in arranging store displays,
planning store sales.
(iii) Creative Salesman : He is a salesman who seeks to introduce a new product
or a new brand into the the market and create a demand for such a novelty. He is
a pioneering salesman. He cultivates and develops sales territories. He is
responsible for a lot of spadework before a product is accepted by common
consumers.
(iv) Detail Salesman : Detailign is a form of specialty selling. The detail
salesman visit doctors, dentists, architects, engineers to sell them on
recommending a product to their clients. Medical representatives of drug
manufacturing companies are detail salesman.
3) Consumer Salesmanship (Retail Sale) : While advertising attracts
prospective buyers to the retail store, the sale depends upon counter salesman of
the store. The retail salesman helps the customer to take purchase decision, to
buy here.
There are three types of outside (outdoor) consumer salesman. The route
salesman who follows a regular route serving consumers e.g., baked goods or
laundry. The independent consumer salesman sells on his own account e.g.,
street vendors, pedlars, mobile retailers.
4) Advantage of Salesmanship :
1. A salesman can pinpoint prospect, whereas advertising cannot distinguish
precisely a prospect from a suspect. Hence there is minimum waste of effort and
expenditure in personal selling.
2. Personal interview in salesmanship assures attention and interest of a
prospect, Personal selling has flexibility.
3) Salesman can adjust sales presentation on the spot to meet objections and
reactions of his prospect in order to gain action.
4) Actual demonstration of the product or its use is recognised as the most
powerful means of convincing. Advertising (expect TV Ads) cannot use
demonstration. But salesman can use it easily.
5) personal selling is the best means of two-way communication continously
between the company and its customers.
5) Limitation on Salesmanship :
1) The greatest limitation is the high cost of personal selling particularly in
inflationary conditions. The cost of developing and maintaining efficient
salesforce is quite high.
2) Good and competent sales-persons are scarce. Sales profession is
becoming less attractive.
6) A-I-D-A-S Formula :
The salesman, in order to effect a sale, must persuade the customer to
buy his product. This act of persuasion needs proper planning of the strategy and
tactics. The customer must be taken through certain stages of the mind. These
stages are very effectively summerised by what is known as the A-I-D-A-S
formula.
1. ‘A’ Attention
2. ‘I’ Interest
3. ‘D’ Desire
4. ‘A’ Action
5. ‘S’ Satisfaction
VI ADVERTISING
1) What is Advertising ?
advertising is a form of mass communication. It is paid for by a sponsor
(seller) who wants to communicate about his product or service to his
customers. The advertiser or sponsor wants to persuade and induce the readers,
viewers or listeners to take some action, namely to buy the advertised product so
that the advertiser can have profitable sales.
Advertising can be defined as mass, paid communication (presentation
and promotion) of goods, services or ideas by an identified sponsor. It is paid
communication because the advertiser has to pay for space or time in which his
advertisements appears. Advertising appears in the recognised media, such as
newspapers, magazines, radio, television, cinema film, outdoor boardings and
posters, direct mail and transit (car cards).
2) Advantages of Advertising : Advertising is a major promotion tool. It has to
following basic plus points or strengths as a promotion tool. 1) It offers planned
and controlled message. 2. It can contact and influence numerous people
simultaneously. quickly, and at a low cost per prospect. Hence, it is called mass
means of communication. 3. It has the ability to deliver messages to audiences
with particular demographic and socio-economic features. 4. It can deliver the
same message consistently in a variety of contexts. 5. It can reach prospects that
cannot be approached by salesmen, e.g., top executives. 6. It helps to presell
goods and pull the buyers to retailers. 8. It is very useful to create maximum
interest and offer adequate knowledge of the new product when the innovation is
being introduced in the market.
3) Weaknesses of Advertising as a Promotion Tool :
1. It is much less effective than personal selling and sales promotion at
later stages in the buying process. 2. It is less flexible than personal
communication. It cannot answer objections raised by prospects. 3. It is
essentially one way means of communication. 4. It is most efficient
communication (very low cost per prospect) but it is least effective as a tool of
communication. 5. It is unable to reach prospects when they are in a buying
mood. Hence, we have to repeat advertisements and repetition involves
additional cost. 6. Advertising media, e.g., newspapers, magazines, carry many
messages competing to secure attention of audience simultaneously. Thus, it
creates noise in communication. 7. Advertising, many a time, lacks credibility
and trustworthiness.
4) Distinguishing Features of Advertising :
1. It is a unique means of non-personal or mass communication announcing the
sale of goods or services. It can help to introduce a new product quickly.
2. The advertising is non-personal salesmanship performing similar functions
like personal salesmanship. It is a silent but forceful salesmanship. It helps to
presell a product.
3. It is an openly sponsored sales message regarding any product or service, i.e.,
the sponsor can be identified.
4. It is a paid communication - paid for by the sponsor (advertiser) to the media
owner (seller of advertising space or time).
5. Advertising message can be addressed to numerous persons at a time - they
may be readers, listeners, viewers, collectively called audience of advertisement.
It has the ability to expose large groups of prospects at a low cost per prospect.
5) Differences between advertisement and salesmanship :
1. Salesmanship is personal involving direct personal face-to-face
communication. Advertising is non-personal and indirect means of
communication with the prospect through various media of advertisement.
2. Salesmanship is individual (person-to-person) communication through
personal interview between ther salesperson and the prospect. On the other
hand, advertising is mass communication, advertiser reaching a large number of
prospects simultaneously. An advertisement is read, seen or heard by any
number of prospects.
Similarly, there are two differences between advertising and other forms
of publicity.
1. Advertising must be carried on by an identified sponsor. Publicity need not
have identified sponsor.
2. Advertising is a paid form of communication. Publicity is not a paid form of
communication. In a sense, paid publicity is advertising.
6) Importance of Advertising in Marketing :
In the marketing programme of a business, advertising is an
indispensable tool supplemented by salesmanship and sales promotion.
Advertising by facilitating mass production and mass distribution has
provided immense employment opportunities to people. It is responsible for
creating and delivering rising standard of living to innumerable people. It has
made possible tremendous industrialisation and economic development in many
countries. It is the backbone of modern national and international marketing.
7) Advertising Purposes :
Advertising purposes and tasks are set by marketing plans and strategies.
Advertising is the use of paid for, sponsor-identified material in mass media
(including direct mail). The real purpose of advertising is only one, namely to
sell something - a product, a service, or merely an idea through effective
communication. Most advertising attempts to simulate sales to all customers
(present, former and future). Advertising has other purposes as well. It is used to
reassure buyers that they have really made the best purchase. Thus, advertising
can build up brand loyalty. Advertising can enhance the morale of the
salespeople and dealers thereby securing enthusiastic distribution of products.
Advertising is also employed to promote the bright image of the firm in the
society.
8) Advertising as Communication Process :
The following four criteria describes communications process as applied
to advertising. We have : 1. communicator. 2. idea 3. media. and 4. audience in
the process of communications.
Advertising goals may be divided into four stages of commercial
communication as follows:
1. Awareness : The prospect must become aware of the existence of the brand or
company. Awareness is the bare minimum goal of advertising.
2. Comprehension : The prospect must understand what the product is and what
it will do for him. Comprehension level indicates that people are not only aware
of the brand or company but they also know the brand name and can recognise
the package or trademark. But they are not convinced that want to buy.
3. Conviction : The prospect must be mentally convinced to buy the brand or the
product. The conviction level shows brand preference and intention to buy the
product in the near future.
4. Action : The prospect takes meaningful action. Purchase decision is duly
taken.
9) Advertising Campaign :
A campaign is a series of operations to achieve a goal. A single idea or
therne is the centre of our efforts. All promotional efforts are directed towards
pre-set goal, namely, maximum sales and service.
VII. CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION - I
In the field of marketing, channels of distribution indicate routes or
pathways through which goods and services flow, or move from producers to
consumers.
The distribution channel as the set of inter dependent marketing
institutions participating in the marketing activities involved in the movement or
the flow of goods or services from the primary producer to the ultimate
consumer.
The total distribution system which is responsible for distribution of
goods or services in order to satisfy consumer needs or desires.
Meaning and Definitions of Channels of Distribution
William J. Stanton has defined a trade channel in these words - “A
channel of distribution (sometimes called a trade channel) for a product is the
route taken by the title to the goods as they move from the producer to the
ultimate customer or industrial users”
Functions of Channels of Distribution
1. Help in Production Function. 2. Matching Demand and Supply
3. Financing the Producer 4. Aid in Communication
5. Stabilising the Prices 6. Promotional Activities
7. Routinisation of Decisions 8. Pricing.
Factors Affecting the Choice of Channel of Distribution
The channel choice are influenced by several factors. They are
1) Product Characteristics :
The product characteristic play an important role in influencing the
channel selection. They may be
i) Purchase Frequency ii) Perishability
iii) Selling Price per Unit iv) Standardised Products
2) Market Factors or Consumer Factors :
The following market features influence the channel decision. They are
i) Consumer or Industrial Market ii) Number of Purchasers
iii) Geographical Distribution iv) Size of Orders
v) Customers’ Buying Habits
3) Company or Enterprise Factors :
The choice of channel is also influenced by company characteristics such
as its financial position, size, product, mix, morale of its employees, past
channel experience and executive prejudices and overall marketing policies.
i) Financial Resources ii) Size of the Company
iii) product mix iv) marketing policies
v) Attitude of company executives
4) Middlemen Considerations :
The choice of channel also depends upon the strengths and weakness of
various types of middlemen performing various functions such as
i) Services Provided by Middleman ii) Attitude of Middlemen
iii) Cost of Channel Usage iv) Sales volume potential
5) Environmental Factors
The environmental factors such as economic, ethical and social conditions and
law of the land also influence the channel decision.
1) Role of Channels of Distribution :
These channels perform the following marketing functions in the
machinery of distribution:
1. The searching out of buyers and sellers (contacting). 2. Matching goods to the
requirements of the market (merchandising). 3. Offering products in the form of
assortments or packages of items usable and acceptable by the consumers/users.
4. Persuading and influencing the prospective buyers to favour a certain product
and its maker (personal selling/sales promotion). 5. Implementing pricing
strategies in such a manner that would be acceptable to the buyers and ensure
effective distribution.
6) Providing feedback information, marketing intelligence and sales forecasting
services for their regions to their suppliers. 7) offering credit to retailers and
consumers.
8) offering pre and after sales service to customers.
2) Sub-divisions of Distribution System :
Distribution system has two sub-divisions : 1. Channels of distribution,
2. Physical distribution. The channel members such as mercantile agents,
wholesalers and retailers are middlemen in distribution and they perform all
marketing functions.
Physical distribution looks after physical handling of goods, and assures
maximum customer service. It aims at offering delivery of right goods at the
right time and place to customers. Physical distribution activities cover: 1. Order
processing; 2. handling of goods, 3. Packaging, 4. Warehousing, 5.
Transportation, 6. Inventory control, and 7. Customer service.
5) Middlemen in Distribution :
There are two types of middlemen in distribution: 1. Merchant
middlemen buy and sell goods on their own account and at their own risk of
loss, e.g. wholesaler and retailer. 2. Agent middlemen who do not take
ownership title to goods but actively negotiate the transfer of ownership right
from the seller to the buyer. e.g., selling commission agent or broker.
6) Channel System
Under the systems approach the channel is now recognised as a system
involving flow of : 1. information, 2. Marketing communications (promotion), 3.
materials, 4. man power, 5. capital equipment, and money.
7) Channels of Distribution :
Some important channels of distribution are hereunder :
1. Manufacture - Consumer- Channel (Direct Sale) : There are three
alternatives in direct sale to consumers; (a) sale through advertising and direct
methods (mail order selling), (b) Sale through travelling sales force (house to
house canvassing). (c) Sale through retail shops of manufactures. e.g., mills
cloth shops, (Bata Shoe Company Shops).
2. Manufacture - Retailer - Ultimate Consumer : This channel option is
preferable when buyers are large retailers, e.g., a department store, discount
house, chain stores, supermarket, big mail order house or co-operative stores.
The wholesaler can be by-passed in this trade route.
3. Manufacture - Wholesaler - Retailer - Consumer : This is a normal, regular
and popular channel option used in groceries, drugs, drug goods, etc. It is
suitable for a producer under the given conditions : (a) He has a narrow product
line. (b) He has limited finance. (c) Wholesalers are specialised and can provide
strong promotional support.
4. Manufacture - Agent - Wholesaler - Retailer - Consumer : In this channel
the producer uses the service of an agent middlemen such as a sole selling agent,
for the initial dispersion of goods. The agent in turn may distribute to
wholesalers, who is turn sell to retailors. Many textile mills have sole agents for
distribution.
5. Manufacture - Wholesaler - Consumer/User : Wholesaler may by pass
retailer when there are large and institutional buyers. e.g. business houses,
Government, hospitals etc.
8 Channel Choice (Channel Alternative)
Marketing channel decisions considerably influence all other marketing
decisions such as pricing and promotion. Channel decisions also require special
attention as these involve long-term commitments to other firms with whom
marketer enters into a contract.
The most fundamental factor for channel choice and channel
management is economic criteria, namely, cost and profit criteria. Profit
organisations are primarily interested in cost minimisation in distribution and
assurance of reasonable profit margin. However, channel decisions are not made
entirely on the basis of rational economic analysis.
The following are other critical factors.
1. Product : (a) If a commodity is perishable or fragile, a producer prefers few
and controlled levels of distribution. For perishable goods speedy movement
needs shorter channel or route of distribution. (b) For durable and standardised
goods longer and diversified channel may be necessary. (c) For custom made
product direct distribution to consumer or industrial user may be desirable. (d)
Products of high unit value are sold directly by traveling sales force and not
through middlemen.
2) Market : (a) For consumer market, retailer is essential, whereas in business
market we can eliminate retailer. (b) If the market size of large, we have many
channels, whereas in a small market direct selling may be profitable. (c) Size
and average frequency of customer’s orders also influence the channel decision.
In the sale of food products, we need both wholesaler and retailer.
3. Middlemen : (a) Middlemen who can provide wanted marketing services will
be given first preference. They must accept marketing policies and programmes
of the manufactures and actively help them in their implementation.
4. Company : (a) The company’s size determines the size of the market, the
size of its larger accounts and its ability to get middlemen’s co-operation. A big
firm may have shorter channel. (b) The company’s product mix influences the
pattern of channels. The broader the product line, the shorter will be channel. If
the product mix has greater depth or specialisation, the company can favour
selective or exclusive dealerships. (c) A company with substantial financial
resources need not rely too much on the middlemen and can afford to reduce the
levels of distribution. A weaker company has to depend on middlemen to secure
financial and warehousing relief’s. Thus quantity and quality of marketing
services provided by the company can influence the channel choice
directly.
5. Marketing Environment : Marketing environment can also influence the
channel decision.
During recession or depreciation, shorter and cheaper channel is always
preferable. In times of prosperity we have a wider choice of channel alternatives.
6. Competitors : Marketers closely watch the channels used by rivals.
Sometimes marketers deliberately avoid customary channels (dominated by
rivals) and adopt different channel strategy.
9) Channel Decision :
The first problem of channel design is weather you want direct sale to
consumer or indirect sale. i.e., sale through middlemen. Under the direct sale the
channel problems become problems in company operations as most of the
system’s components are parts of the company organisation. If the firm choose
the indirect route, it must consider such problems as the type and number of
middlemen and the methods to be employed in motivating and controlling them.
The selection of these middlemen begins with the knowledge of ultimate
customers - his needs and desires for distribution services. The number of
middlemen employed will be determined by customer conveniences and
economics of exclusive distribution. The company must choose whether to
attempt extensive, selective or exclusive distribution or combination of all the
three types. The decision is made after a careful analysis of product, consumers,
dealers, company objectives and policies, and the conflict within the channels
and bring the product profitably to the market.
1. Each channel of distribution is responsible to perform the typical marketing
functions assigned to exclusively. 2. Retailing, wholesaling and physical
distribution (transport, storage and inventory control) are treated as separate
entities in distribution for purposes of easier understanding.
3. Locating customers, serving their demand and offering them service and
satisfaction are the basic tasks of the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers
who combine to form an integrated channel of distribution.
10) Market Coverage :
Once the company decides the general channel to be used it has to decide
on the number of middlemen in each channel :
There are four alternatives.
1. External Distribution : Extensive or broad cast distribution is essential when
the price is low, buying is frequent and brand switching is a common
phenomenon. Extensive distribution secures rising sales volume, wider
consumer recognition and considerable impulse purchasing. But it creates
problem of motivation and control and it may generate unprofitable sales due to
higher marketing costs.
2. Selective or Limited Distribution : When special services are needed, e.g. TV
sets or a right prestige image is to be created, e.g. certain cosmetics to be sold
only through chemists, we have selective distribution. When we have limited
number of middlemen, they can spend more on sales promotion and offer
maximum cooperation in the company’s promotion campaign.
3. Exclusive Distribution : When final buyers do not need any product service,
mass or extensive distribution is adopted. If the amount of product service
expected by final buyers is considerable, exclusive distribution is preferable.
There are three major aspects of exclusive distribution :
i) Exclusive Dealing Contracts : They prohibit the dealer from selling products
or rivals.
ii) Trying Contracts : They compel the dealer to carry full line of a
manufacture.
iii) Closed Sales Territory : It limits each dealer to sell only to buyers located
within the assigned area.
4) Franchise Selling : Franchise means a privilege or exceptional right granted
to a person. Franchise selling is a term to describe in effect selective or
exclusive distribution policies. Franchise selling any contract under which
independent retailers or wholesalers are organised to act in close cooperation
with each other or with manufacturers to distribute given products or services.
Franchise selling is a system under which a manufacturer grants to certain
dealers the right to sell his product or service, in generally defined areas, in
exchange for a promise to promote and sell the product in a specific manner.
The franchiser (the parent company) provides equipment, the products or
services for sale, and also managerial services to franchisee (the owner of
business unit)
Under this system, the owner of the product issues a licence to
independent dealers in certain areas and encourages them to make profit for
themselves. The owner retains control over the technique or style with which the
goods or services are sold.
We have three forms of franchising :
i) The manufacturer-sponsored retail franchise system (eg) car maker
licenses dealers to sell its cars.
ii) The manufacturer-sponsored wholesaler franchise system. (eg) cocacola
licenses bottlers.
iii) The service - firm-sponsored retailer franchise system. For example,
Fast-food-service, auto-rental business, motel business.
ii) Physical Distribution - II
What is physical distribution ?
The marketing process is not complete simply by creating a superb
product and by creating a customer by aggressive salesmanship. Delivering the
product to the customer at the right time and place is equally important function
in marketing. In the process of marketing this vital function is called physical
Distribution. Physical Distribution means the process of delivering the product
to the user or consumer promptly, safely and in time.
Physical Distribution involves management of the physical flows of raw
material, finished goods from the points of origin to the points of use or
consumption to meet the customer needs at a profit. It covers all activities in the
flow of goods between producer and consumer.
Components of physical Distribution :
1) Distribution planning and accounting. 2) In bound transport 3) Receiving 4)
Inventory
management 5) In-plant warehousing 6) order processing 7) packaging 8)
Dispatch of goods 9) outbound transport 10) Field warehousing 11) Customer
service
12) Communication.
Physical distribution components or activities can be used as element of
marketing
strategy.
Thus physical distribution management has assumed, great importance
as it can reduce the cost of transport, storage, material handling, order
processing and holding inventories.
****************
Compiled by
Dr. S. MUTHIAH
Ph.D.
Lecturer in
commerce (S.G)
Sri K.G.S. Arts
College,
Srivaikuntam -
628619
Tamilnadu
UNIT V
SERVICEMARKETING APPLICATIONS
Objectives of the study:
The objectives of this unit are to help one understand, in general, the:
• Importance of Service Marketing in the Finance field:
• Role played by the different fund based and non–fund based
Financial Services products, namely, Leasing, Hire Purchase
Services, Consumer Finance, Insurance, Factoring, Mutual
Funds, and Credit Cards.
Contents Design:
5.1. Introduction
5.2. Marketing retention strategies of some fund and non-fund based
financial services
5.3. Leasing
5.4. Hire purchase services
5.5. Consumer Finance
5.6. Insurance
5.7. Factoring
5.8. Mutual funds
5.9. Credit cards
5.1. INTRODUCTION
Marketing identified goods and services. But the growing importance of
services have been identified and felt only very recently, leading to the slow
emergence of services as the most indispensable part of all business activities.
Services, once considered as the supplementary business activity of marketing
goods, now reached a stage where its importance has been clearly identified and
cost assigned.
According to the American Marketing Association, Services are: activities,
benefits or satisfactions offered for sale; or provided in connection with the sale
of goods.
There has been a growing regular market for the services rendered. These
services may be: skilled services, semi-skilled services and unskilled services.
Skilled services are those rendered as consultancy with practically no physical
exertion, such like the Professional Consultants of the higher order. Semiskilled
services are those rendered with equal amount of physical exertion as
well as consultancy, such like: Practicing Doctors, Chartered Accountants etc.
Skilled services are those where the physical exertion is the most, such like
those rendered by the on site labourers.
From the year 1960 onwards, there has been phenomenal growth in the service
sector, with varied and wide varieties of services. It was evident from when the
concept of buyers market was advented and where marketing of goods can not
be made in isolation unless and until it is solidly supported by services. Some of
the notable services are: Catering services provided by Hotels and Restaurants,
Personal care services provided by Beauty Parlours; Communication services
from Telephone and Postal companies including Couriers; Consultancy services
provided by Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers; Financial services provided by
Banks as well as Non-Banking Financial Institutions; and the like. The reasons
for these evidential growths in the service markets are many. Some of them are:
1. There is a lot of money in circulation in the economy and also with
the people;
2. There is varying demands and needs of the consumers which they
want to satisfy in different ways;
3. There is constant increase in sophistication and complexity in the
needs.
However, it is to be noted that the following unique features relating to the
service marketers make them more complex and challengeable. They are;
Intangible nature;
Perishable nature;
Heterogeneity;
Non-acceptability of having a uniform price policy;
Difficulty in comparing and assessing the quality of services rendered;
Changes in the pattern of demand;
Difficulty in demarking individuals from the services they render; and
Difficulty in quantifying the service received or rendered.
In the present scenario; service marketing becomes a complicated and
complex phenomenon which needs a detailed study mainly on two major thrust
areas, namely, the different applications of service marketing; and also the
knowing the different strategies with which the established market can be
retained.
The present unit is a concerted effort in making one study and understand
some of the special fund and non-fund based financial services, namely :
Leasing and Hire purchase services; Consumer finance; Insurance and
Factoring; Mutual funds and Credit cards.
5.2. MARKETING RETENTION STRATEGIES OF SOME SPECIAL
FUND AND NON-FUND BASED FINANCIAL SERVICES.
Corporate sector financial requirements range from long term to medium
term. In order to satisfy their long term requirements, corporate go to the
primary and secondary securities market. However, for meeting their medium
term requirements and also the uncovered or under-covered portion of their long
term requirements, leads to the emergence of financial services.
Financial services means and include not only providing the required funds
of the corporate but also rendering finance related fee based advises or providing
both. Financial services may be classified into the following which in no way
can be put in water tight categories namely,
1. Asset / Fund based Financial Services;
2. Fee based financial services. and
3. Asset / Fund and Fee based financial services.
Under the Fund / Asset based financial services, the service provider
provides the required amount of finances in terms of money or in terms of assets
or in both the terms. Lease financing, Hire Purchase financing, Bills
discounting, are some of the examples under this category.
Under the fee based financial services, the services provider provides only
expert / consultancy services, without taking any risk, for a nominal fee. Here,
the responsibility of the services provider is very much limited. Credit rating,
Credit cards, is some of the examples for this category.
Under the Asset / Fund and fee based financial services, the service provider
provides the funds as well as the assets in accordance with the requirements of
the corporate, but at the sometimes charges a nominal sum as fee for the services
and expert advises .Factoring, Insurance, Venture capital financing, Stock
broking are some of the examples for this category.
In the competitive marketing environment of today, even the service
providers find it very difficult to survive in the market. This is mainly because
of the following factors, namely,
1. There is large flow of money in the economy.
2. There is a large number of service providers, entering and exiting.
3. There is no major regulatory mechanisms in operations, to control
and minimize the risks prevalent in the sector,
4. There is constant changes in the economic, political and social
regiments resulting in drastic changes becoming effective in the
sector
5. The service requirements of the service demanders are also varied,
complex and changing. and
6. Heterogeneity prevails in most dealings.
To have a retainable market, it is imperative on the part of the service
provider to look into various marketing retention strategies. In order to achieve
this, a detailed knowledge about the various financial services is needed. The
present chapter unit is a step in this direction.
5.3. LEASING
5.3.1. Definition
The Transfer of Property Act defines a lease as a transaction
in which a party
owning the asset provides the asset for use over a certain
period of time to
another for consideration either in the form of periodic rent
and/or in the form of
down payment.
Lease may also be defined as a contract between two parties
for the hire of a
specific asset wherein the lessor retains ownership of the
asset while the lessee
has possession and use of the asset on payment of a
specified rental over a
period of time.
Leasing is suitable for financing the investments in
productive equipments and
is available to a broad range of business and other service
organizations like:
hospitals, educational institutions, associations and
government as well as nongovernment
agencies.
5.3.2. Parties to Lease agreements:
5.3.2.1. Lessee:
Lessees vary widely from the one-person operations to the

Fortune Hundred
corporations where diverse equipments are being leased.
Transactions range from a few thousands worth of
equipment (such as fax
machines) to crores worth cogeneration facilities,
telecommunications systems,
medical equipment (including CAT scanners and MRI
imaging), office systems,
computers, commercial aircraft, and transportation fleets.
There is no end to the
types of equipments that companies lease.
5.3.2.1.1. Obligations of Lessee
The rights and obligations of a lessee in a lease contract are

many and varied.
Some of them are:
- To use the assets during the lease period in accordance to
the terms and
conditions of the lease agreement.
- To put to proper use, operation, maintenance and storage
of the equipment
under lease.
- To remit periodically the lease rentals as per the lease
agreement.
- To insure at all times and for an amount equal to the full
insurable value of the
asset.
- To return to the lessor the leased asset on the expiration or
earlier termination
of the Lease agreement, i.e., in the event of default by the
lessee.
5.3.2.2. Lessor:
Lessor in most cases, are corporate only. There are four

basic types of such
companies:
Banks or bank-affiliated firms;
Captive leasing companies such as subsidiaries of
equipment
manufacturers who lease out their parent's products;
Independent leasing companies, which may be small and
specialized
or large and diversified;
Others, including those investment bankers and
independent
brokers/packagers who bring the parties of a lease together;
5.3.2.2.1. Rights and Obligations of Lessor:
The rights and obligations of a lessor in a lease contract are;

- Right of ownership of the leased asset.
- Right to claim depreciation on the asset.
- Right to ensure that the asset is put to fair use and within
the limitations
contained in the agreement.
- Right to collect the rentals and other sums payable by the
lessee under
agreement.
- Right to sue in case of breach of agreement or any acts of
the lessee which
ultra vires the agreement.
5.3.3. Types of Lease:
The following are the different types of Lease agreements.
5.3.3.1. Operating lease: Here the lease period is shorter

than the expected
useful life of the equipment. Rental payments do not cover
the equipment cost of
the lessor during the initial lease term. This type of lease is
popular for high-tech
equipment, because shorter term leases help equipment
users stay ahead of
equipment obsolescence. The lessor uses its equipment with
remarketing
expertise to subsequently find other users for the returned
equipment, something
the typical equipment user does not have time or ability to
do.
5.3.3.2. Finance lease: Here the lease period is longer, more

nearly
covering the useful life of the equipment. Rentals tend to be
lower because of
the longer term and less residual value risk.
5.3.3.3. Sale-leaseback:
One who purchases the equipment has the need and uses it
for a period of
time before selling it to a lessor. After selling the equipment,
one then lease the
equipment. This is another way to free up ones operating
capital. On smaller
equipment leases worth thousands of rupees, leases tend to
be more
standardized. Above that cost range - several hundred
thousand into the millions
- variations appear more frequently.
5.3.3.4. Leveraged lease:

Under this lease, bigger acquisitions are made, such as
acquiring an
airplane. This may include several customized provisions and
options that would
not appear in a typical lease for a smaller amount, thus
leading to flexibility in
the product size of the lease.
5.3.3.5. Short Term Lease:

These leases are typically for assets that have high
depreciation eligibility like
computers, windmills etc. They are for a period of 2-3 years,
and may be useful
to corporate having capital requirements for products that
have high
obsolescence, high taxable income in the near future.
5.3.3.6. Long Term Lease:

These are for assets that have low depreciation eligibility like
plant and
machinery, cars, furniture and fixtures etc. and have a long
economic life.
Corporate who are interested in leveraging the balance
sheet and have a higher
operational profit prefer this one.
5.3.3.7. Sub – Lease

A transaction in which the leased property is re-leased by
the original lessee
to a third party and the lease agreement between the two
original parties
remains the same.
5.3.3.8. Secondary Lease

A second lease period obtained and during which the lessee
will pay
nominal rentals in order to ensure that the lease period is
long enough for
the lessee to gain maximum benefit from the lease.
5.3.3.9. Structured Lease

Structured rentals are not flat or equated over the lease
term i.e. the rentals
vary over the lease term. The rental structure typically fit the
lessee's
inflows from the asset. A structured lease will have some
visible pattern.
The main types of structured leases are as follows:
(a). Stepped-up Rentals:
The rentals are structured in such a way that the lessee will
pay smaller rental
amounts at the beginning of the lease period and larger
rental amounts towards
the end of the lease period i.e. the rentals will increase in
proportion over the
rental period so that the rentals are heavier towards the end
of the lease period.
(b). Stepped-down Rentals:
The rentals are structured in such a way that the lessee will
pay larger rental
amounts at the beginning of the lease period and lower
rental amounts towards
the end of the lease period i.e. the rentals will decrease in
proportion over the
rental period so that the rentals are heavier at the beginning
of the lease period.
5.3.4. Factors determining Lease:

As the lessee, the following factors determine the most
effective type of
lease for the company. These factors include: the life of the
equipment; what one
intend to do with the equipment at the end of the lease;
one’s tax situation; one’s
cash flow; and the company's specific needs as they relate
to future growth.
Further, one’s needs also determine what happens at the
end of the lease. As
a lessee, one’s options include: returning the equipment to
the lessor; purchasing
the equipment at fair market value or at a nominal fixed
price; or renewing the
lease.
5.3.5. Working of the Lease:

Almost any type of equipment can be leased. As the lessee,
who deal with
the lessor concerning the term of and the rate of the lease,
ancillary expenses -
such as taxes, service, insurance and maintenance, usually
are the responsibility
of the lessee and are not deductible from the rental
payment.
There are three ways one can acquire equipment

through leasing.
1. One can select and order the equipment and then seek
financing through a
lessor.
2. One can select the equipment by working with a vendor or

a
manufacturer who offers leasing through their own
subsidiary.
3. One can obtain the equipment directly through a lessor.

In most cases, the lessee selects and orders the equipment
before contacting
the lessor. Unless provided for in the lease agreement, the
lessor doesn’t
normally provide equipment warranties which are between
the lessee and
the manufacturer.
By signing the lease, the lessee assigns its purchase rights
to the lessor, who
already owns or who then buys the equipment as specified
by the lessee.
When the equipment is delivered, the lessee formally
accepts it and makes
sure it meets all specifications. The lessor pays for the
equipment, and the
lease takes effect.
5.3.6. Merits of Leasing:

The following are the merits of leasing. They are:
1. It is flexible: Companies have different needs, different

cash flow
patterns, and different yet irregular - streams of income. For
example,
start-up companies typically are characterized by little cash
and limited
debt lines. Mature companies might have other needs: to
keep debt lines
free, to comply with debt covenants, and to avoid
committing to
equipment that may quickly become obsolete. Therefore,
business
conditions - cash flow, specific equipment needs, and tax
situation - may
help define the terms of lease. Moreover, a lease provides
the use of
equipment for specific periods of time at fixed rental
payments.
Therefore, leasing allows flexibility in the management of
equipment.
2. It is practical: By leasing, one transfers the uncertainties

and risks of
equipment ownership to the lessor, which allows one to
concentrate on
the productive part of the business.
3. It is cost effective: Equipment is costly and some of the
costs are
unexpected. When one lease, risk of getting caught with
obsolete
equipment is lower because one can upgrade or add
equipment to best
meet one’s needs. Further, equipment needs can change
over time due to
changes in the company policy, such as diversification.
Sophisticated
business managers have learned that the primary benefits of
higher
productivity and profit come from the use of equipment, not
owning it.
4. It has tax advantages: Rather than deal with depreciation

schedules and
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) problems, the lessee, simply
make the
lease payment and deduct it as a business expense, thus
saving a lot in
tax. The lessor can pass on part of the tax benefits to the
lessee through
reduced rentals.
5. It helps conserve operating capital. Leasing keeps lines of

credit open,
and one need not tie up one’s cash in equity. Also, one can
avoid costly
down payments leading to increased operating capital.
6. It frees working capital for more productive use.
7. It provides 100% funding as opposed to other sources of

capital that
usually provide only 60-70 percent.
8. It is simple to negotiate and administer.
9. Most expenses associated with the leased equipment can

be incorporated
into the lease and amortized over the lease period.
5.3.7. Hire Purchase Vs Lease

The economic substance of a lease is similar to that of a HP.
A lease is a simple
contract of bailment while a hire-purchase has an additional
element - an option to
buy. There are, however, some differences that affect the
choice between a lease
and a HP. They are:
1. Tax consequences:
The depreciation rate does not have any impact on the post tax returns
in the case of a HP whereas a lease would be
directly affected by it. Higher the depreciation rate, higher the post tax
rate of returns. Therefore, lease becomes
advisable for items of higher depreciation.
2. Repayment Period:
Leasing is preferred for periods of 6 years or more while Hire
Purchases are undertaken for shorter periods of time.
3. Impact of point of initiation:

Under the flat method of accounting, HP is a preferred option all over
the year. Under the capital recovery method,
leasing is the preferred option in the 5th, 6th, 11th and 12th month of
the fiscal year.
5.3.8. Accounting in the lessor’s books:
a. Effect as per the Accounting Standard 19

- The lessor should recognise assets given under a finance
lease as a
receivable at an amount equal to the net investment in the
lease.
- The lease payment receivable is treated as a repayment of
principal.
b. Effect as per Books of Accounts

- The lessor will not capitalize the asset on his balance sheet.
- The Lessor does not depreciate the assets in his books of
accounts.
- He will show the lease receivables as a current asset.
- The lessor's income statement is credited every year with
the interest
element of the lease rentals.
c. Effect as per Income Tax Act

- The lease rentals are taken as the lessor's income under
"Profits and
Gains of Business and Profession".
- Depreciation is allowed to the lessor.
5.3.9. Accounting in the lessee’s books:

a. Effect as per Books of Accounts
- The assets will be capitalized under the "Fixed Assets"
category in Balance
Sheet. (as per AS 19)
- The Future Lease Rentals payable will be shown in the
Liabilities side of the
Balance Sheet.
- The Lessee will be entitled to depreciate the assets in the
books of accounts.
- The Lessee will be entitled to claim the entire lease rentals
as expenditure in
the Profit & Loss Account.
b. Effect as per Income Tax Act

- The Lease rentals paid during the current year can be
written of as an expense
in the Profit & Loss Account.
5.3.10. Activities
1. Meet the leasing company in your area and know from
them what type of
lease they have been undertaking with special features.
Type Features
------------------- ---------------------------
-
------------------- ---------------------------
-
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-
2. Meet the know lessees in your area and enquire about the
circumstance
which lead to leasing.
Lessees Circumstances
------------------ ----------------------------
5.3.11. Self Assessment Test:
1. What is leasing?
2. Who is a Lessor? What are his rights & obligations?
3. Who is a Lessee? What are his rights and obligations?
4. Name and explain any four different types of Leasing?
5.3.12. Glossary:
Bargain Purchase Option
A lease provision allowing the lessee, at its option, to
purchase the
equipment for a price predetermined at lease inception that
is substantially
lower than the expected fair market value at the date the
option can be
exercised.
Big-Ticket
A market segment dominated by leveraged leases and
represented by lease
financings over $2 million.
Broker
A company or person who arranges transactions between
lessees and
lessors, for a brokerage.
Capital Lease
Type of lease classified and accounted for by a lessee as a
purchase and by
the lessor as a sale or financing, if it meets any one of the
following criteria:
(a) the lessor transfers ownership to the lessee at the end of
the lease term;
(b) the lease contains an option to purchase the asset at a
bargain price; (c)
the lease term is equal to 75 percent or more of the
estimated economic life
of the property (exceptions for used property leased toward
the end of its
useful life); or (d) the present value of minimum lease rental
payments is
equal to 90 percent or more of the fair market value of the
leased asset less
related investment tax credits retained by the lessor.
Certificate of acceptance (Delivery and Acceptance)
A document whereby the lessee acknowledges that the
equipment to be
leased has been delivered, is acceptable, and has been
manufactured or
constructed according to specifications.
Direct Financing Lease (Direct Lease)
A non-leveraged lease by a lessor (not a manufacturer or
dealer) in which
the lease meets any of the definitional criteria of a capital
lease, plus certain
additional criteria.
Economic Life (Useful Life)
The period of time during which an asset will have economic
value and be
usable.
Effective Lease Rate
The effective rate (to the lessee) of cash flows resulting from
a lease
transaction. To compare this rate with a loan interest rate, a
company must
include in the cash flows any effect the transactions have on
tax liabilities.
Equity Participant
The owner participant, thrust owner, or grantor owner.
Equipment Schedule
A document that describes in detail the equipments leased.
It may also state
the lease term, commencement date, repayment schedule
and location of the
equipment.
Fair Market Purchase Option
An option to purchase leased property at the end of the
lease term at its
prevailing fair market value. The lessor does not have the
ability to retain
title to the equipment if the lessee chooses to exercise the
purchase option.
Finance Lease
Typically, a finance lease is a full-payout, non-cancelable
agreement, in
which the lessee is responsible for maintenance, taxes, and
insurance.
Full Payout Lease
A lease in which the lessor recovers, through the lease
payments, all costs
incurred in the lease plus an acceptable rate of return,
without any reliance
upon the leased equipment's future residual value.
Hell-or-High-Water Clause
A clause in a lease that reiterates the unconditional
obligation of the lessee
to pay rent for the entire term of the lease, regardless of any
event affecting
the equipment or any change in the circumstances of the
lessee.
Indemnity Clause
A clause in which the lessee indemnifies the lessor from loss
of tax benefits.
Indenture of Trust (Indenture)
An agreement between the owner trustee and the indenture
trustee. The
owner trustee mortgages the equipment and assigns the
lease and rental
payments under the lease as security for amounts due to the
lenders.
Lease
A contract in which one party conveys the use of an asset to
another party
for a specific period of time at a predetermined rate.
Lease Rate (Rental Payment)
The periodic rental payment to a lessor for the use of assets.
Others may
define lease rate as the implicit interest rate in minimum
lease payments.
Lessee
The user of the leased equipment.
Lessor
The party to a lease agreement who has legal or tax title to
the equipment,
grants the lessee the right to use the equipment for the
lease term, and is
entitled to the rentals.
Leveraged Lease
The lessor provides an equity portion (usually 20 to 40
percent) of the
equipment cost and lenders provide the balance on a non-
recourse debt
basis. The lessor receives the tax benefits of ownership.
Master Lease
A contract where the lessee leases currently needed assets
and is able to
acquire other assets under the same basic terms and
conditions without
negotiating a new contract.
Middle Market
A market segment generally represented by financings
under $2 million
and dominated by single investor leases.
Net Lease
A lease wherein payments to the lessor do not include
insurance and
maintenance, which are paid separately by the lessee.
Non-recourse Lease
In a leveraged lease, the lenders cannot look to the lessor for
repayment.
The lender's only recourse is to the lessee and, therefore,
the lessee's credit
rating is of prime importance.
Open-End Lease
A conditional sale lease in which the lessee guarantees that
the lessor will
realize a minimum value from the sale of the asset at the
end of the lease.
Operating Lease
Any lease that is not a capital lease. These are generally
used for short term
leases of equipment. The lessee can acquire the use of
equipment for just a
fraction of the useful life of the asset. Additional services
such as
maintenance and insurance may be provided by the lessor.
Packager
The leasing company, investment banker, or broker who
arranges a
leveraged lease.
Present Value The current equivalent of payments or a
stream of payments
to be received at various times in the future. The present
value will vary
with the discount interest factor applied to future payments.
Residual Value
The value of an asset at the conclusion of a lease.
Sale-Leaseback
An arrangement whereby equipment is purchased by a
lessor from the
company owning and using it. The lessor then becomes the
owner and
leases it back to the original owner, who continues to use the
equipment.
Sales-Type Lease
A lease by a lessor who is the manufacturer or dealer, in
which the lease
meets the definitional criteria of a capital lease or direct
financing lease.
Single Investor Lease
A tax-oriented lease whereby the lessor achieves its desired
rate of return
via a combination of the rental payments, depreciation, and
the fair market
value of the equipment at the end of the original lease term.
Because of the
value of the tax benefit, the rental payments will be lower
than for a finance
lease.
Tax Lease
A lease wherein the lessor recognizes the tax incentives
provided by the tax
laws for investment and ownership of equipment. Generally,
the lease rate
factor on tax leases is reduced to reflect the lessor's
recognition of this tax
incentive.
Trac Lease
A tax-oriented lease of motor vehicles or trailers that
contains a terminal
rental adjustment clause and otherwise complies with the
requirements of the tax
laws.
True Lease
A type of transaction that qualifies as a lease under the
Internal Revenue
Code. It allows the lessor to claim ownership and the lessee
to claim rental
payments as tax deductions.
Trustee
A bank or trust company that holds title to or a security
interest in leased
property for the benefit of the lessee, lessor, and/or creditors
of the lessor. A
leveraged lease often has two trustees: an owner trustee
and an indenture
trustee.
Vendor Leasing
A working relationship between a financing source and a
vendor to provide
financing to stimulate the vendor's sales. The financing
source offers leases or
conditional sales contracts to the vendor's customers. The
vendor leasing firm
substitutes as the captive finance company of a
manufacturer or distributor
through the extension of leasing to customers, provisions of
credit checking, and
performance of collections and operational administration.
Also known as lease
asset servicing or vendor programs.
Foreclosure:
A foreclosure is the termination of the lease period by the
lessor on request of
the lessee prior to the end of the lease period
Lease Management Fee:
A Lease Management Fee is an upfront, non-refundable fee
payable to the
Leasing Company for services rendered like processing /
marketing etc.
Residual value:
The value of the equipment at the conclusion of the lease
term is called the
residual value. It is the value at which the assets are
transferred from the lessee
to the lessor.
5.4. HIRE PURCHASE SERVICES
5.4.1. Meaning and Characteristics:

The Hire purchase Act defines a hire purchase as a type of
installment credit
under which the hire purchaser (hirer) agrees to take goods
on hire of a stated
rental with an option to purchase.
A commercial hire purchase (CHP) is a particular type of
finance used by
businesses for the purpose of purchasing a new or used
vehicle or other business
equipment.
In general, a Hire Purchase agreement is regarded as a
financing arrangement in
which the principal purpose is to finance the use of a piece
of equipment for the
majority of its useful life. Under this agreement, the Hirer
chooses the type of
equipment, the supplier, the make, model and any special
features required and
then negotiates with the supplier the term of warranties,
maintenance
arrangements, delivery, installation and most importantly,
the purchase price of
the equipment.
Hire purchase is a mode of financing the price of the goods
to be sold on a
future date and where the goods are let on hire, the
purchase price is to be paid
in installments and hirer is allowed an option to purchase the
goods by paying
all the installments. A hire-purchase agreement is a peculiar
kind of transaction
in which the goods are let on hire with an option to the hirer
to purchase them,
under the following conditions:
1. Payment to be made in installments over a specified
period of time.
2. The possession is passed on to the hirer at the time of
entering into the
contract;
3. The title to goods passes on to the hirer on payment of
the last instalment;
4.Each instalments is treated as hire charges so that if
default any made in
payment of instalments, the seller is entitled to take away
the goods; and
5. The hirer/purchaser is free to return the goods without
being required to pay
any further instalments falling due after the return.
Thus, a hire-purchase agreement has two aspects.
Firstly, an aspect of bailment of goods subjected to the hire-
purchase agreement,
and Secondly, an element of sale becomes effective when
the option to purchase
is exercised by the intending purchaser. Though the option
to purchase is
allowed in the very beginning, it can be exercised only at the
end of the
agreement.
The modus operandi of a hire-purchase transaction is
structured around the
following features:
The finance (hire-purchase) company purchases the
equipment from the
equipment supplier and lets it on hire to the hirer, who in
turn is required to
make a down payment of 20-25 per cent of the cost and pay
the balance with
interest in Equated Monthly Instalments (EMI) in advance or
arrears spread
over 36-48 months. Alternatively, in place of the margin in
the down-payment
plan, under deposit-linked plan, the hirer has to put an equal
amount as a fixed
deposit with the finance company which provides the entire
finance on hirepurchase
terms repayable with interest as EMI over 36-48 months. The
deposit
together with the accumulated interest is returned to the
hirer after the payment
of the last instalment.
5.4.2. Hire-Purchase Vs Instalment Payment System
In an instalment sale, the contract of sale is entered into, the

goods are delivered
and the ownership is transferred to the buyer but the price
of the goods is paid in
specified instalments over a definite period.
The first distinction between the two is based on the call
option (to purchase the
goods at any time during the term of the agreement) and
the right of the hirer to
terminate the agreement at any time before the payment of
the last instalment
(right of termination) in the former while in the latter the
buyer is committed to
pay the full price. Secondly, in instalment sale the ownership
of the goods
passes on to the purchaser simultaneously with the payment
of the initial/first
instalment, whereas in hire-purchase the ownership is
transferred to the hirer,
only when he exercises the option to purchase/or on
payment of the last
instalment.
5.4.3. Parties to Hire Purchase Contract:

Normally, there will be two parties in a hire-purchase
contract, viz., the
intending seller and the intending purchaser or the hirer. But
today, these
contracts generally involve three parties, namely, the seller,
the financier and the
hirer. With the emergence of the fiancé function as a
separate business activity
and the substantial growth of finance companies in recent
times, the sale
element in a hire-purchase contract has been divorced from
the finance element
and as such a dealer normally arranges finance through a
finance company.
A tripartite hire-purchase contract is arranged with the
following modalities:
1. The dealer contracts with a finance company to finance
hire-purchase
deals submitted by him.
2. The customer selects the goods and expresses his desire
to acquire
them on hire-purchase, the dealer arranges for him the full
set of
documents generally supplied by the finance company to be
completed to make it an agreement
3. The customer then makes cash down payment which is
retained by
the dealer as a payment on account of the price to be paid
to him by
the finance company.
4. The dealer then sends the documents to the finance
company
requesting them to purchase the goods and accept the hire-
purchase.
5. The finance company, if it decides to accept the
transaction, signs the
agreement and sends a copy to the hirer along with the
instructions as
to the payment of the instalments and also notifies the same
to the
dealer and asks him to deliver the goods, if he has not
already done
so.
6. The dealer delivers the goods to the hirer against
acknowledgments
and the property in the goods passes on to the finance
company.
7. The hirer makes payment of the hire instalment
periodically.
8. On completion of the hire term and when the hirer pays
the last
instalment, the property in the goods passes on to the hirer
on issue
of a completion certificate by the finance company.
5.4.4. Sales Vs Hire Purchase:
A hire-purchase contract differs from sale in the sense that:

1. In a hire-purchase, the possession of the goods only is
with the hirer
and the ownership vests with the original owner. But in the
case of
sale, both possession and ownership passes on immediately.
2. In hire purchase there is no agreement to buy but only an

option is
given to the hirer to buy the goods under certain conditions.
The
owner ship in the goods passes to the hirer when he
exercises his
option by making the full payment. But in the case of sale,
there must
be an agreement to buy.
5.4.6. Taxation
The taxation aspects of hire-purchase transactions are

divided into three parts (i)
income tax, (ii) sales tax and (iii) interest tax.
5.4.6.1. Income tax
Hire-purchase, as a financing alternative, offers tax benefits
both to the hirevendor,
(hire-purchase finance company) and to the hire-purchaser
(user of the
asset).
Assessment of Hire-Purchaser (Hirer):
Circular issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes in 1943
and subsequent
court rulings, the hirer is entitled to claim depreciation as a
deduction on the
entire purchase price. One can also claim deduction on
account of 'consideration
for hire’ i.e., finances charge which is the difference between
the hire-purchase
price and the cash price.
The hirer can choose any one of the alternatives, namely, (1)
level/equal
distribution, or (2) distribution on the basis of sum of year’s
digits method, or
(3) rate of return method.
Assessment of Owner (Hire- Vendor):
The consideration for hire/hire charge is considered as
income received by the
hire-vendor which is liable to tax. The hire income from
house property is also
generally taxed as income from house property with normal
deductions (except
depreciation) allowed.
5.4.6.2. Sales Tax:
The rates of sales tax on hire-purchase deals vary from state
to state and as such
there is no uniformity even regarding the goods to be taxed.
5.4.6.3. Interest Tax:
The hire-purchase finance companies, like other credit/
finance companies
have to pay interest tax under the Interest Tax Act, 1974.
Interest tax is
payable on the total amount of interest earned less bad
debts in the previous
year @ 2 per cent.
5.4.7. Cost of Hire-Purchase:

The Cost of Hire-Purchase to the hirer (CHP) consists of the
following:
1. Down payment
2. Plus service charges
3. Plus present value of hire-purchase payments discounted
by
cost of capital (Kd)
4. Minus present value of deprecation tax shield discounted
by
cost of capital (Kp)
5. Minus present value of net selvage value discounted by
cost of
capital (Kc)
5.4.8. Benefits of Hire-Purchase:

1. Interest charged and depreciation of the assets are tax
deductible
2. No capital outlay is required and uninterrupted cash flow

is assured.
3. Terms can be flexible. And fixed installments of

repayments make it
easy the preparation of budgets.
4. After the last instalment payment of the hire purchase

agreement,
ownership of the goods got transferred.
5. The purchaser has the option to make payments with or

without a
balloon payment at the end of the term.
5.4.9. GLOSSARY
Nature of Agreement: States the nature, term and
commencement of the
agreement.
Delivery of Equipment: The place and time of delivery and
the hirer’s liability
to bear deliver charges.
Location: That place where the equipment shall be kept
during the period of
hire.
Inspection: That the hirer has examined the equipment and
is satisfied with it.
Hire Charges: To be paid by the hirer, the time schedule, the
rate of
interest/penalty for delayed payment/default.
Repairs: The hirer to obtain at his cost, insurance on the
equipment and to hand
over the insurance policies to the owner.
Alteration: The hirer, not to make any alterations, additions,
etc., to the
equipment, without the prior consent of the owner.
Termination: The events or acts of the hirer that would
constitute a default
eligible to terminate the agreement.
Risk: Of loss and damage to be borne by the hirer.
5.4.10. Activities:
1. Visit a Hire Vendor shop and obtain the procedure for
selling under Hire
Purchase System?
Step 1. ……………………… 6. …………………………
2. . ……………………… 7. …………………………
3.. ……………………… 8. …………………………
4.……………………… 9. …………………………
5.. ……………………… 10. …………………………
5.4.11. Self Assessment Test
1. Define Hire-Purchase? Explain its features?
2. Explain the Benefits of Hire Purchase?
3. Hire Purchase Vs Instalment system?
4. Hire Purchase Vs Sale.
5.5. CONSUMER FINANCING
5.5.1. Introduction and Meaning:

Consumer financing refers to the providing of finance for
unspecified uses or for
the purchase of consumer durables by the employees of
established corporate
and other institutions. Here, the consumer pays back without
or with an initial
down payment covering a small portion of the consumer
purchases, and the rest
along with the agreed rate of interest over an agreed period
of time.
The system of consumer financing made a modest beginning
in the early
eighties, made rapid progress covering almost all the
consumers’ oriented direct
products and their marketing. The major implied
consideration in the operation
of consumer financing is the fact that most of the middle-
income group
consumers may find it difficult to save money for the
purchase of consumer
durables for marking payment at one lot. In order to lessen
their burden of
payment, and to switch over from keeping large sums of
money as deposits, and
to come out from their mind block of spending carefully and
wisely the hard
earned money, and the like many, consumer credit came
into being. This
consumer credit was the off shoot of small credits made by
neighbors and
known people to others which have grown far and wide.
Today Banks, financial
institutions, consumer durable products manufacturing
companies, offer
attractive and wide range of consumer credit to net all the
consumers towards
their products such as: cars, two wheelers, entertainment
products, personal
computers, house appliances, food processing appliances,
etc.
5.5.2. Parties in Consumer Finance:
The parties to consumer finance are many and primarily
depend upon the nature
of the contract. The contracts may be:
1. Bipartite agreement
2. Tripartite agreement
3. Multiparty agreement
(i) In a bipartite agreement, the two parties may be: (a)
borrower/consumer and
the financier, (b) borrower and financial institutions, and the
like combinations.
(ii) In a tripartite agreement the parties are: consumer,
dealer, and financier.
(iii) In a multiparty agreement, the parties may be:
consumer, guarantor,
financier, dealer, intermediary and others. The agreement
composition parties
may be varying according to the situation, namely, personal
credit; educational
credit; etc.
5.5.3. Types of Consumer Finance:

A consumer finance agreement may take the form of any
one of the following:
(a).Hire Purchase:It is an agreement where the consumer
has agreed
to purchase the product by paying the last instalment. It
may take the form of:
bipartite or tripartite or even multipartite one.
(b). Personal Finance:
It is an agreement to finance the personal needs of the
consumer with/ without
clearly defined objects. This can take the form of anyone of
the three
agreements, where the need and circumstances determine
the parties.
(c).Conditional Sale:
The ownership is transferred to the customer only when the
total purchase price
including the credit charges are paid. However, the customer
cannot terminate
the agreement before the payment of the full price.
(d).Credit Sale:
The customer on payment of the first instalment itself
becomes the owner of the
products, but thereafter he cannot cancel the agreement.
5.5.4. Terms of Payment:
The consumer credit finance agreements fall into three
categories. They are:
1. Instalment with initial payment schemes.
2. Instalment with no initial payment schemes.
3. Instalment with lead time schemes.
4. Deposit linked payment schemes.
The down payment may range between 20-25 per cent of
the cost while the
deposit may vary between 15-25 per cent of the amount
financed at the
compound rate of interest. Some agreements provide no
deposit or zero down
payment with higher Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) have
also been
practiced. In certain special cases, initial lead time for
repayment is also
allowed.
The repayment period for the credit ranges between 12-60
monthly instalments.
The effective rate of interest is normally expressed at a flat
rate, but the
effective rate of interest is generally not disclosed. However,
the EMI associated
with the different repayment periods will be mentioned. The
security available
for the credit provider varies from salary attachment to
having a first charge on
the asset, where the consumer cannot
sell/pledge/hypothecate the asset.
5.5.5. Shopping Is the First Step in credit schemes:
Credit is a convenience. It lets one charge a meal on one’s
credit card, pay for an
appliance on the installment plan, get a loan to buy a house,
or pay for schooling
and vacations. With credit, one can enjoy the purchase while
one is paying for it,
or one can make a purchase when one is lacking ready cash.
But there are strings attached to credit as well. It usually
costs something. And,
of course, what is borrowed must be paid back. If one is
thinking of borrowing
or opening a credit account, the first step should be to figure
out how much it
will cost one and whether one can afford it. Then only one
should shop for the
best terms.
5.5.6. Glossary:
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)—the cost of credit expressed
as a yearly rate.
Appraisal Fee—the charge for estimating the value of
property offered as
security.
Balloon Payment—A large extra payment that may be
charged at the end of a
loan or lease.
Billing Error—any mistake in your monthly statement as
defined by the Fair
Credit Billing Act.
Collateral—Property, such as stocks, bonds or a car, offered
to support a loan
and subject to seizure if one defaults.
Credit—the right granted by a creditor to pay in the future to
buy or borrow in
the present; a sum of money due to a person or business.
Credit History—the record of how one borrowed and repaid
debts.
Creditor—A person or business from whom one borrow or to
whom one owe
money.
Credit Insurance—Health, life, accident, or disruption of
income insurance
designed to pay the outstanding balance on a debt.
Credit-Scoring System—A statistical system used to rate
credit applicants
according to various characteristics relevant to
creditworthiness.
Creditworthiness—Past, present, and future ability to repay
debts.
purchases, withdrawals, or other types of electronic fund
transfers.
Default—Failure to repay a loan or otherwise meet the terms
of one’s credit
agreement.
Disclosures—Information that must be given to consumers
about their financial
dealings.
5.5.7. Activities:
1. Visit a large consumer durable goods selling store and
obtain the process of
sanctioning consumer credit.
Step 1:
1 …………………………. 5.…………………………
2 …………………………. 6.…………………………
3 …………………………. 7.…………………………
3 …………………………. 8.…………………………
2. Meet any two of your friends who purchased car,
Refrigerator, washing
machine, T.V., etc., on credit basics and get their opinion
about the purchase.
Customer Name Product Purchase Amount of Credit item
Opinions
Address of credit Purchase
1. …………… ……………….. ………….. …………………
2. …………… ………………… ………….. …………………
3. Ask your friends about the various legislations and their
provisions, if not in
particular atleast in general, relating to consumer
production.
Consumer Production Provisions
1. ……………………….. 4………………………………..
2. ……………………….. 5………………………………..
3. ……………………….. 6………………………………..
1. What do you mean by consumer finance?
2. Explain the features of consumer finance?
3. Bring out the protection measures available to the
consumers?
5.6. INSURANCE
5.6.1. Introduction
The risks of the large group of persons are pooled and the
actual loss suffered is
compensated from the pooled funds, is the modes operandi
of insurance.
In the contract of insurance, the insurer (insurance
company) agrees/
undertakes, in consideration of a sum of money (Premium),
to make good the
loss suffered by the insured against a specified risk such as
fire and any other
similar contingency or compensate the insured or
benefactors on the happening
of a specified event such as accident or death.
There are two types of insurance.
1. Life insurance – where the life of individuals got insured.
The sum assured
will be paid in cash when death of the insured occurred or on
the expiry of the
specified period of time, whichever occur earlier.
2. General insurance - this covers the losses by theft, fire
accident, and the like.
5.6.2. Life insurance Vs General Insurance
Criteria Life insurance General insurance
1. Happening of an event Certain Uncertain
2. Indemnity nature Not Possible Possible
3. Insurable interest At the time of the
contract
Both at the time of the
contract and at the time of
loss
4. Period Continuing Most cases annual.
5.6.3. Type of Insurance Polices:
5.6.3.1.Life Insurance Policies
A contract of life insurance is a contract where, in
consideration of the
premium, the insurer agrees to pay a certain sum of money
on the death of the
assured or upon the expiry of a certain agreed period,
whichever is earlier. The
major life insurance policies are:
(a).Endowment Policy:
This policy holds that the insured amount is payable either at
the end of a
specified period or upon the death of the insured person,
whichever is earlier. It
may also be taken for: the marriage of children at or after a
certain age, or the
education of children after the death of the assured.
(b).Whole Life Policy:
It is the cheapest policy where the premium continues to be
paid throughout the
life of the assured, but the amount becomes payable only
after his death.
(c).Limited Payment Life Policy:
It is similar to the whole life policy as to the case where the
policy money is
payable only after the death of the assured. However, the
difference lies in
respect of the payment of premium which is paid only for a
certain period, or
until the death of the assured, if it occurs within that period.
(d).Joint Life Policy:
The policy money becomes payable either on the maturity of
the policy or on the
death of any of the persons jointly insured. Partnership firms
find this policy
useful one which enables them to pay the capital of the
deceased partner.
(e).Convertible Whole Life Policy:
The assured is given as option to convert the policy into an
endowment policy
after sometime, failing which the policy will continue as a
whole life policy. The
initial premium will be very low.
(f).Annuities:
The person pay premium in regular installments over a
certain period or at one
lot. After the assured reaches a certain age, the insurer pays
back the money by
monthly, quarterly, half-yearly installments which provide a
source of regular
income to the assured or to his dependents after the expiry
of the specified
period.
(g).Sinking Fund Policy:
A fixed amount is paid as premium annually which keeps on
growing at a
specified rate of interest. After the specified period, the
company gets the entire
money, which is used by the corporate for redemption of
debentures, repayment
of loans or for replacement of assets.
(h).Double Accident Indemnity Policy:
If the assured dies of an accident, survivors of the assured
get double the amount
of the policy.
(i).Janata Policy:
This type of policy can be taken out for a period of 10, 15 or
24 years, with the
pre-condition that, the policy should mature before the
assured reaches the age
of 60 years. This policy can be taken by a person only before
the age of 45
years. The formality of medical examination is not necessary
if the person
taking out the policy is below the age of 35 years. No loan is
granted against
such policy.
5.6.3.2. Fire insurance Policies
This is a contract under which the insurer agrees, in
consideration of the
premium, to compensate the loss or damage caused by fire
during a specified
period. In case of loss, the assured can claim from the
insurer the actual amount
of loss, or the maximum amount specified in the contract,
whichever is less.
Some of the important fire insurance policies are:
(a).Specific Policy:
Under this policy, the loss suffered by the assured is covered
only up to a
specific amount which is less than the real value of the
property, with the
insertion of an average clause.
(b).Comprehensive Policy:
It is also know as an all-in-one policy because it covers
losses arising from any
kind of risks, such as, fire, theft, burglary, third party risks,
and so on. It may
also cover loss of profits for the period during which business
transactions
remained suspended due to fire.
(c).Valued Policy:
The insurer agrees to pay a fixed sum of money irrespective
of the amount of
loss to the insured. If the loss exceeds the fixed sum, the
payment is quit
justified, otherwise not. Being a contract of indemnity, no
profit can be made out
of any loss under an insurance policy, but this is what
actually happens in this
case.
(d).Floating Policy:
It covers property lying at different places against loss by
fire, with an average
clause.
(e).Replacement or Reinstatement Policy:
This policy seeks to check mischief by the possibility of
receiving cash from the
insurer, might himself become a party to the cost of
replacement of the property
damaged or destroyed by fire. No cash payment, only the
damaged or destroyed
property is replaced or reinstated.
5.6.3.3. Marine Insurance Policies
This branch of insurance relates to ships and their cargoes.
The insurer
indemnifies the insured against marine losses, that is ,
losses relating to marine
adventure or to navigation or commerce on the sea. At
times, such contract may
extend to losses on inland waters or to any voyage. But this
can be only by a
clear provision in the contract to that effect. The main types
of such policies
are:
(a).Voyage Policy:
It insures the subject matter "at and from" or "from" one
place to another. If the
policy is "at and from a port", it covers the subject matter
both while the ship is
at the port of departure and also from the time of the sailing
of the ship. "From a
port" policy covers the subject-matter only when the ship
sails from the port.
(b).Time Policy:
The subject matter is insured for a definite time not
exceeding a year. If the
policy period comes to an end while the ship is still away
from its destination, it
is taken care of by a "continuation clause", whereby the
period' is extended for
such time as is necessary to take the ship safely to the part
of destination.
(c).Mixed Policy:
It combines a "voyage" and a "time" policy. It covers the risk
during a particular
voyage for a specified period, e.g., "From Bombay to London'
for six months".
(d).Valued Policy:
It is a policy which specifies the agreed value of the subject
matter.
(e).Open and Unvalued Policy:
The value of the subject matter is not specified. In case of
any loss, it is
ascertained subject to the limit of the sum insured.
(f).Floating Policy:
This policy only mentions the amount for which the policy is
being taken out.
The particulars as to the ship or ships, on which the goods
are, to be shipped, or
as to the goods which are to be shipped, are left to be
specified later.
5.6.4. Insurance in the Present era:
In view of the (i) need for competition which may offer
choice to the public in
terms of service, products and prices, (ii) vast untapped
potential of many new
line of business, private insurance companies should be
allowed. However,
mushrooming of small companies has to be avoided. No
single company should
be allowed to transact both life and general Insurance
business. The number of
new entrants should be controlled. The minimum paid-up
capital for new
entrants should be Rs 100 crores. However, a lower capital
requirement can be
preferred for state level cooperative institutions taking up
life insurance
business. The promoters' holding in a private insurance
company should not
exceed 40per cent of the total. However, if the promoters
wish to start with a
higher holding they should be permitted to do so provided
their holding is
brought down to 40percent within a specified period of time
through public
offering. No person other than the promoter should be
allowed to hold more than
1 per cent of the equity. Promote should at no time hold less
than 26 per cent of
the paid-up capital.
If and when entry of foreign insurance companies is
permitted, it should be done
on selective basis. They should be enquired to float an Indian
company for the
purpose, preferably in joint venture with an Indian partner.
Before the private sector is allowed to enter the insurance
field, the Control of
Insurance should start functioning effectively. Regulatory
and prudential norms
as well as conditions for ensuring level playing fields among
insurers should be
finalized early so that aspiring entrants into the insurance-
business would be
aware of the stipulations they would have to comply with.
These conditions should aim to ensure that life insurers do
not neglect the small
man or the rural business and that the general insurers have
balanced portfolios.
Though nationalized insurance companies are in a position
to face competition,
it is essential that they quickly upgrade their technology,
and reorganize
themselves on more efficient lines.
5.6.5. Regulation
Insurance organisations are repositories of public trust. They
sell promise to
indemnify the insured upon the happening of specified
events. They are to be
regulated in some form or the other to ensure that business
is run fairly, is
conducted by competent persons, does not result in losses
to the insurers leading
to their insolvency and at the same time protects the
legitimate interests of the
insured.
Before the nationalisation of life and general Insurance, and
the setting up of
LIC in 1956 and GIC in 1973 as monolithic institutions,
insurers were regulated
under the provisions of the Insurance Act, 1938 which was
administered by the
Controller of Insurance (COI). The application of the Act was
greatly modified
by the nationalisation enactments and Government
directions/notifications and
most of the regulatory functions were taken away from the
COI and vested in
LIC GIC.
Having regard to both the present and the future scenarios,
the Insurance
Regulatory Authority (IRA) should be set up as a multi-
member statutory body,
similar to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
It should have a
full-time chairperson, two full-time and some part-time
members. The
chairperson and the members should be persons of ability,
integrity and standing
having knowledge of, and experience in, insurance, finance,
administration, law
other relevant disciplines. One member should have a strong
general insurance
background and another having experience in life insurance.
The IRA should
have full functional autonomy and operational flexibility to
discharge its
functions in a free and fair manner.
The principal functions of IRA would be as follows.
1. Subject to the provisions of law, to set capital adequacy,
solvency margins and other prudential norms for entities
that
transact insurance business;
2. To examine, in the light of the prescribed criteria,
applications
for grant of registration for transacting insurance business,
and
to grant such registration where appropriate;
3. In the interest of consumer protection, to set standards for
insurance products. " There should be a system of "File and
Use" for insurance products subject to the power of IRA to
modify the rates, terms and conditions within a prescribed
time
limit;
4. To ensure compliance with prescribed ceilings for
management expenses of insurers and agency commissions;
5. To monitor the performance and quality of re-insurance;
6. To ensure maintenance of adequate technical reserves by
the
insurers;
7. To review insurers' asset distribution and management
and
particularly to monitor compliance with prescribed prudential
norms and patterns of investment;
8. .To ensure high standards of accounting and transparency
of
balance sheets of insurance companies and to scrutinise and
accept annual accounts, valuation reports and solvency
margin
statements;
9. To detect badly managed, unhealthy, or failing insurers
and to
take suitable corrective action, including appointment of
administrators or to temporarily mange such companies and,
when warranted, cancellation of registration;
10. Where necessary, to act as a "dispute resolution forum"
for
consumer grievances;
11. To prepare and publicise an annual report on the state of
the
insurance industry.
12. To maximise aggregate domestic retention and to
minimise
drain of' exchange;
13. To encourage and to ensure availability of need-based
and low
cost insure products to the rural population and the urban
poor;
14. To ensure a variety of insurance products in a free and
fair
market.
In due course, IRA may find it necessary to shoulder more
responsibility to the
changing character of the market. In the interest of
autonomy, it should have an
independent source for financing its establishment and
activities for which
purpose a levy of, say, 0.5 per cent of the premium income
of insurance
companies may be collected.
5.6.6. Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA)
On September 6, 1995, the Government of India approved
the setting up to
interim IRA under the overall control of the Ministry of
Finance to regulate the
insurance sector in place of the Controller of Insurance. It
has been entrusted
with the task of preparing a comprehensive legislation to
establish a statutory,
autonomous IRA on the pattern of the SEBI.
Salient Features:
The salient features of the interim IRA are described as
follows.
The Chairman of the IRA is the ex-officio Controller of
Insurance (COI) and
exercises all powers vested with the COI at present. The
interim body is
empowered to examine the powers withdrawn from the Col
or modified through
Government notifications issued from time to time, or
delegated to the LlC and
GIC under nationalising enactments of the insurance
business, need to be
restored.
Subject to the over all directions and regulations, the IRA
would deal with all
matters relating to promotion and orderly growth of the
insurance market
propose a comprehensive legislation for the purpose
indicated above and carry
out such other non-statutory functions as may be delegated
to the IRA/Chairman
by the Central Government for these purposes. The IRA is
free to determine its
own procedures and has powers to call for records, returns,
notes, memoranda,
data or any other material relevant to its working from
official and non-official
bodies and also hold discussions with them. It is required to
submit periodical
reports to the Government on various aspects of the
insurance companies and on
such specific matters as may be called for by the
Government form time to time.
5.6.7. Activities
1. Meet an insurance agent of your locality and obtain the
features of the popular
LIC and other polities.
Name of the Policy Features
1. ……………………. ……………………………
2 …………………… ……………………………
3. …………………… ……………………………..
4. ……………………… …………………………….
2. Meet three or four friends who have taken different
insurance policies and
enquire about their merits and demerits.
Name of the Policy Merits Demerits
1. ………………….. …………………….. …………………..
2. ………………….. …………………….. …………………..
3. ………………….. …………………….. …………………..
4. ………………….. …………………….. …………………..
3. Visit three or four business concerns and enquire about
the features of
different policies they have taken .
Name of policies Features
1. …………………………… ……………………………….
2. …………………………… ……………………………….
3. ……………………………… ……………………………….
4. ……………………………… ……………………………….
5.6.8. Self Assessment Test
1. Explain the different types of insurance?
2. Name any five insurance polices?
3. Explain the role and importance of insurance in the
present day
scenario?
4. Public insurance Vs Private insurance.
5.7. FACTORING
5.7.1. Introduction:
Factoring is one of the most flexible financing options which
not only provides
the needed resources for financing receivables but also
facilitates the speedy and
efficient collection of debts of the company, or other
obligations. As business
grows, it is natural that the company is totally limited to pre-
approved credit
lines, and have to go though a complicated and redundant
application process.
But factoring allows one to focus on expanding the business
by providing with
the necessary capital and removing much of the
administrative red tape.
Factoring as a fund-based financial services existed long
back in the financial
scenario of the developed courtiers. But its existence in the
developing and
under developed countries cannot he ruled out completely,
as they were the part
of the financial system of these courtiers also in a most
crude and
unauthenticated form.
Factoring has the ironic distinction of being the financial
backbone of many of
America's most successful businesses, because it is not
taught in business
colleges, seldom mentioned in business plans and is
relatively unknown to the
majority business people. Yet, it is a financial process that
frees up billions of
dollars every year, enabling thousands of businesses to grow
and prosper.
Business practices today dictate that in order to get
business, the provider of
goods and services, must extend terms to their customers.
These terms can squeeze the life, since cash is the lifeblood
of any business, out
of a new or struggling company. Factoring is the process of
purchasing
commercial accounts receivable (invoices) from a business
at a discount.
Factoring has a long and rich tradition, dating back 4,000
years to the days of
Hammurabi. Hammurabi was the king of Mesopotamia,
which gets credit as the
"cradle of civilization."
After a while, Hammurabi and the Mesopotamians went the
way of extinct
civilizations, but factoring endured. Almost every civilization
that valued
commerce has practiced some form of factoring, including
the Romans who
were the first to sell actual promissory note at a discount.
The first widespread, documented use of factoring occurred
in the American
colonies before the revolution. During this colonial times,
factors made
advances against the accounts receivable of clients,
enabling the clients to
continue with their operations, long before they had been
paid for what they
were sold.
With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, factoring
became more focused on
the issue of credit, although the basic premise remained the
same. By assisting
clients in determining the creditworthiness of their
customers and setting credit
limits, factors could actually guarantee payment for
approved customers.
Prior to the 1930's, factoring in this country occurred
primarily in the textile and
garment industries, as the industries were direct
descendants of the colonial
economy that used factoring so specifically. After the war
years, factors saw the
potential to bring factoring to other forms of invoice-based
business and the
expansion began.
Today, factors exist in all shapes and sizes: as divisions of
large financial
institutions or, in larger numbers, as individually owned and
operated
entrepreneurial endeavors.
With banks becoming too expensive and too inflexible due to
heavy regulation
(remember the Savings and Loan crisis?), the small
businessperson was forced
to find other sources of financing for expansion and growth.
As more and more
banks stop befriending the small business person, factoring
is becoming an
increasingly popular option. This year alone thousands of
businesses will be
selling crores of rupees in accounts receivable, and they are
doing it for profit,
growth, and in some cases, their very survival.
5.7.2. Definition:
Factoring is a risk bearing activity, of a company safely
transfers the risk of
collecting those receivables which are not backed by
negotiable instruments. If
there are negotiable instruments, then financing may not be
a problem, as these
instruments can be discounted.
Factoring is an ever growing multifunctional financial
service, which can not be
put within the four walls of a definition. However, the try for
a unique
definition continues. The following are some of them.
Peter M.Biscose, “Factoring is a continuing legal relationship
between a
financial institution (the factor) and of business concern (the
client) selling
goods or providing services to trade customers whereby the
factor purchases the
clients’ book debts either with or without recourse to the
client and in relation
thereto controls the credit extended to ledger”.
C.S. Kalyansundaram, “Factoring is the outright purchase of
credit approved
accounts receivables by the factor assuming bad debt
losses”
The study group appointed by the International Instituted for
the Unification of
Private Law(UNIDROIT) recommended, in 1988, “factoring
means an
arrangement between a factor and his client which includes
at least two of the
following services to be provided by the factor, namely,
providing finance,
maintenance of accounts, collection of debts, and giving
protection against
credit risk”.
Thus, it can be very well stated that the factor is the
financial intermediary who
enters into the business scenario through the weakest link .
5.7.3. Entry of Factor
The entry of factors in the business system can be depicted
through the
following chart.
20% 80%
Business
Cash Deals Credit Deals
Supported by negotiable
instruments Without negotiable
PDF files.i nTsotr uremmenotvse the line, buy a license.
Promote Bad debts
payment
Prompt payment for a fee.
5.7.4. Working of Factoring
Factoring starts functioning in the business concern with the
following steps.
1. A preliminary evaluation of the business and customer
base is made.
2. Quick decisions are made, eliminating long waits for loan
committee
approval, which leads to a stage where, if one fills an order
or complete a
contract for services and generate an invoice, the Factor will
fund that invoice
and advance a large percentage of the face amount
immediately.
3. The factor’s fees are determined by the amount financed,
average invoice
size and collection time. All fees are clearly stated in the
agreement with no
hidden charges.
4. The factor provides comprehensive, password protected
on-line
management reports to all the clients. These reports allow
one to make
informed decisions based on real time information.
FACTOR
5. How much and how often to factor is entirely up to the
client. They can
choose to factor all or a portion of their receivables for a
length of time that
works best for them.
6. If one has outgrown one’s line of credit with one’s bank, or
if it is a
young company without an established track record, or if
previous cash flow
problems have tarnished one’s credit rating, or even if one
has a tax line, still
one can quality.
5.7.5. Services of Factors:
Factoring is an agreement based service provided by the
‘Factor’ to a ‘Seller’ (a
client). The client is at the most advantages position where
he can limit
factoring and also discontinue it after the lapse of the
agreement. However, it is
advisable for the continuance of the agreement of factoring
considering the
benefits that accrue to the business concern.
The following are the generally accepted factoring services.
They are:
1. Purchase of all the accounts receivables of the sellers for
cash.
2. Administration / Maintenance of the agreed sales ledgers
of the
client;
3. Collecting the agreed accounts receivables;
4. Assuming the credit risks, credit control and credit
protection ; and
5. Advising the seller at the needed and appropriate time.
5.7.6. Benefits of factoring:
This financial service benefits the company in many ways.
Some of them are:
Avoid  the loss of business to competitors who are better
financed.
The
 clients can spend less time in managing their
receivables and spend
more time in managing their other business activities.
Cash
 can be got on the invoices within 24 hours.
Stabilises
 the cash flow.
Take  advantage of purchase discounts.
Stop  worrying about meeting payroll at the last minute.
Improve  the company's credit status.
Pay  off loans and other debts.
Meet  seasonal demands.
Offer  better credit terms to one’s customers.
One’s  "Line of Credit" grows as their business grows.
Purchase  inventory sooner and fill orders faster.
Fund  marketing efforts to grow the business.
Reinvest  in the business.
Quick,  simple and straightforward.
Prompt  funding
Credit  based on the customers' strengths.
Accurate  and comprehensive online financial reports,
issued in real
time so one can always know where you stand.
Detailed  account statements.
Account  Receivable records management.
Fast,  personalized attention.
5.7.7. Comparison of Factoring to Other traditional financial
services:
Features Factoring Leasing Going
Public
Venture
Capital
Bank
Loan
Simple Application Yes No No No Varies
Required Personal
Guarantees
No Possibly No Yes Possibly
Days to Fund 3to10 15to30 120to270 60 to 180 60 to
180
Approval based on
Prospect’s credit
No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Funding tied to sales Yes No No No No
Give up equity No No Yes No No
Give up control No No Possibly No Possibly
Limited to asset
value
No Yes No Yes Possibly
Requires
Profitability
No Usually Yes Yes Usually
On-going
monitoring
No No Yes Yes Yes
Reduce Overhead Yes No No No No
5.7.8 Types of Factoring:
The important forms of factoring are:
(a).Recourse and Non-recourse Factoring:
The factor has recourse to the client (firm) if the debt
purchased/receivable
factored turns out to be irrecoverable, under recourse
factoring. The factor does
not bear the credit risks and if the customer defaults in
repayment, the client
must make good the loss incurred by the factor. The factor’s
charges include:
maintenance charges of the sales ledger, debt collection
expenses, and the
interest on the amount advanced by the factor.
In the case of non-recourse factoring, the loss arising out of
bad debts are to be
borne by the factor himself but for that he charges a higher
commission, known
as a del credere commission. Here the factor is also actively
associated with the
process of grant of credit and the extension of line of credit
to the customers of
the client.
(b).Advance andMaturity Factoring:
A pre-specified portion, ranging between three-fourths to
nine-tenths, of the
factored receivables will be paid as advance by the Advance
Factor and the
balance will be paid upon collection/on the guaranteed
payment date.
A bank gives an advance to the client to finance a part, say
50 per cent, of the
factor reserve, which is called Bank Participation Factoring-
an extension of
advance factoring.
Under Maturing Factoring/ Collection Factoring, the factor
makes the prepayment
to the client either on the guaranteed payment date or on
the date of
collection
(c).Full Factoring or Old Line Factoring:
Under Full factoring, all the services, namely, collection,
credit protection,
sales-ledger administration and short-term finance, of the
factors will be
provided.
(d).Disclosed and Undisclosed Factoring:
The name of the factor is disclosed in the invoice by the
supplier/manufacturer
of the goods directing the debtor to make payment to the
factor, normally on a
recourse basis, under the disclosed factoring.
The name of the factor is not disclosed in the invoice but the
factor maintains
the sales ledger of the supplier or manufacturer, who also
provide short term
funds, under Undisclosed Factoring.
(e).Domestic and Export/Cross-Border/International
Factoring:
1. Three parties, namely, customer (buyer), client
(sellersupplier)
and factor (financial intermediary) who domicile in
the same country are involved in the domestic factoring.
Normally four parties, (i) exporter (client), (ii) importer
(customer), (iii) export factor and (iv) import factor are
involved in the Export Factoring.
5.7.9. Factoring Vs Bills Discounting:
Similarities: These services provide short-term finance and in
both cases the
clients would have otherwise received payment from the
buyer at the end of the
credit period.
Differences:
CRITERIA Bill Discounting Factoring
1.Risk taking Always with recourse Either with recourse or
without recourse.
2.Collection
responsibility
The drawer to collect and
remit to the funding agency
Factor collects on behalf
of the client
3.Services Provision of finance only Other services also
undertaken
4.Rediscounting Can be done several times,
before maturity
Cannot be done
5.Nature Individual transaction
oriented
Several unpaid trade
related invoices oriented
6.Mode Balance mode of financing Off- balance mode
7.Assignment Does not involve assignment
of debt
Based on assignment
only
5.7.10. Factoring in India :
1. In India, as such Factoring service came very recently
only. It owes
its genesis to the recommendations of the Kalanasundaram
Study
Group appointed by the RBI in 1989. But the RBI issued
guidelines
for factoring services in 1990. the first factoring company-
SBI
Factors and Commercial Ltd. (SBI FACS) started operation in
April
1991. .
5.7.11. Activities:
1. Visit the premises of a factor in your town or nearly town
and enquire about
the functions he performs .
Name & Address of the factory issued Functions, as total by
them.
1. ………………………… ……………………………
2. ………………………… ……………………………
3. ………………………… ……………………………
4. ………………………… ……………………………
2. Go to a business hours or a banker and chart down the
process of bills
discounting
Step 1. ………………………… 5. …………………………..
2. ………………………… 6. …………………………..
3. ………………………… 7. …………………………..
4. ………………………… 8. …………………………..
3. Go and meet the owner of a large age old business house
of your area, and
enquire the methods of collection money from the kinds of
debtors of the firm
aver the years.
Kind of Debits Methods used of collection money.
(a). Good debits ……………………………………..
(b). Doubtful debits ……………………………………..
(c). Bad debits including time barred debits
…………………………..
1. Define a Factor? Explain his working?
2. Compare factoring with other Traditional methods of
financing
business?
3. Explain:
(a) Factors as a financer?
(b) Factor as a collector of debits?
4. Explain with example any five different types of factoring?
5. As a large providing business man in your area, do you
favour
factoring? Support your answer.
5.9 CREDIT CARDS
5.9.1. Introduction
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the use of credit cards
originated in the
United States during the 1920s, when individual companies,
such as hotel chains
and oil companies, began issuing them to customers for
purchases made at those
businesses. This use increased significantly after World War
II.
The first universal credit card -- one that could be used at a
variety of stores
and businesses -- was introduced by Diners Club, Inc., in
1950. With this
system, the credit-card company charged cardholders an
annual fee and billed
them on a monthly or yearly basis. Another major universal
card -- "Don't leave
home without it!" -- was established in 1958 by the American
Express company.
Later, the bank credit-card system came into existence.
Under this, the bank
credits the account of the merchant as sales slips are
received (this means
merchants are paid quickly -- something they love) and
assembles charges to be
billed to the cardholder at the end of the billing period. The
cardholder, in turn,
pays the bank either the entire balance or in monthly
installments with interest
(sometimes called carrying charges).
Diner’s card was the first card in the Indian market launched
in 1960. Cards are
now estimated over 2.5. Million and the Citibank had
emerged as the larges card
issuing bank.
5.9.2. Definition
A credit card is a thin plastic card, with a magnetic strip usually 3-1/8 inches
by 2-
1/8 inches in size that contains identification information such as a signature
or
picture, and authorizes the person named on it to charge purchases or
services to
his account -- charges for which he will be billed periodically. Today, the
information
on the card is read by: automated teller machines (ATMs), store
readers, and bank
and Internet computers.
5.9.3. Essential Features:
1. The numbers in the credit card.
ANSI Standard X4.13-1983 is the system used by most national credit-card
systems.
Here are what some of the numbers stand for:
The first digit in the credit-card number signifies the
system:
The
 structure of the card number varies by system. For
example,
American Express card numbers start with 37; Carte Blanche
and Diners
Club with 38.
American Express - Digits three and four are type and
currency, digits
five through 11 are the account number, and digits 12
through 14 are the
card number within the account and digit 15 is a check digit.
Visa - Digits two through six are the bank number, digits
seven through
12 or seven through 15 are the account number and digit 13
or 16 is a
check digit.
MasterCard - Digits two and three, two through four, two
through five
or two through six are the bank number (depending on
whether digit two
is a 1, 2, 3 or other). The digits after the bank number up
through digit 15
are the account number, and digit 16 is a check digit.
2. The stripe on the back
The stripe on the back of a credit card is a magnetic stripe, often called a
magstripe. The magstripe is made up of tiny iron-based magnetic particles
in a
plastic-like film. Each particle is really a tiny bar magnet about 20-millionths
of an
inch long.
The magstripe can be "written" because the tiny bar
magnets can be
magnetized in either a north or south pole direction.
3. Authentication
There are three basic methods for determining whether your credit card will
pay
for what you're charging:
Merchants
 with few transactions each month do voice
authentication
using a touch-tone phone.
Electronic data capture (EDC) magstripe-card swipe
terminals are
becoming more common -- so is swiping your own card at
the checkout.
Virtual terminals on the Internet.
Likewise, the communications between the ATM and the
bank's central
computer are encrypted to prevent would-be thieves from
tapping into the phone
lines, recording the signals sent to the ATM to authorize the
dispensing of cash
and then feeding the same signals to the ATM to trick it into
unauthorized
dispensing of cash.
If this isn't enough protection to ease your mind, there are
now cards that utilize
even more security measures than your conventional credit
card: Smart Cards
5.9.4. Card Types:
Types of Credit Card Based on consumer demands.
Low Interest Credit
Cards
Credit Cards with 0% intro APR's
& low fixed rate offers
Instant Approval Cards
Get approved instantly on select
credit cards from specific banks
Balance Transfer Cards
Transfer a high interest balance
onto a low APR credit card
Prepaid Debit Cards
Control your spending with a
prepaid debit card
Rewards Credit Cards
Credit Cards that "Reward" you
for your purchases
Credit Cards for Bad
Credit
Cards for people who are looking to
re-establish their credit
Cash Back Credit Cards
Credit Cards that allow you to
earn cash back on purchases
Student Credit Cards
Credit Cards for High School &
College Students
Airline Credit Cards
Earn frequent flyer miles with an
airline credit card
Business Credit Cards
Cards for corporate & small
business owners
Card Types
There are basically three types of credit cards:
Bank cards, issued by banks (for example, SBI Cards, ICICI
Cards,
Visa, MasterCard etc.,
Travel and entertainment (T&E) cards, such as American
Express and
Diners Club
House cards that are good only in one chain of stores
(Sears is the
biggest one of these, followed by the oil companies, phone
companies
and local department stores.)
Another familiar one is known as an affinity card. This card --
typically a
MasterCard or Visa -- carries the logo of an organization in
addition to the
lender's emblem. Usually, these cardholders derive some
benefit from using the
card -- maybe frequent-flyer miles or points toward
merchandise.
5.9.5. Credit Card System:
Any bank (credit organization) that issues credit cards would
have entered
into an agreement several establishments, hotels, airlines,
retail
establishments, travel agencies, jewelry shops, super
markets, hospitals,
nursing homes, petrol pumps, etc, in various parts of the
country. These
are called ‘member establishments’. The agreement is to
provide goods and
services on credit to the credit card holders after satisfying
themselves
about the identity of the card-holder. While supplying the
goods, the cardholder’s
signature is taken on the bill. This is prepared in ‘triplicate’.
This
serves as an authenticated and accepted document
evidencing the supply of
goods to the card-holder. Once a fortnight, a member
establishment is
required to prepare a statement furnishing the details of the
bills, bankwise
and send the same to the banks. The banks on its part, make
payment
to the member establishments without delay after deducting
up on the
agreed discount. The bank, in turn, prepares consolidated
statements,
customer-wise giving details of the several amounts due fro
the purchase
made from various member establishments and sends it to
the concerned
card-holders. Every card holder is then required to make
payment within a
stipulated period (normally a month). A card-holder has an
option either
to pay lump sum, within the given period, in that case it is an
interest free
credit availed, or in installments. However, a credit card-
holder is expected
to pay a prescribed minimum percentage of his balance and
the
organization changes interest every month on the balance
amount.
1. Card-holder makes purchases from member
establishments.
2. Fortnightly statement sent to the banks by member
establishment.
3. Payment by the bank to the member establishments.
4. Card organization sends consolidated statement of
purchases to the
card-holders.
5. Card-holders makes payment in full or in part to the card
organization.
5.9.6. Benefits
I. To the card-holder
a. it is convenient for him as it enables cash-less
transactions. Thus the
risk factor of carrying cash is avoided.
b. He gets credit from the banks without going through the
time
consuming formalities.
c. It inculcates a sense of financial discipline.
d. It provides a proof of spending through banking channels.
e. He has the convenience of making a single payment for
the purchase
made during the month.
f. It can become very handy in case of emergencies.
g. It also facilitates insurance cover/discount.
h. A special status and importance in society etc.
II. To the Member establishment
a. Increase in sales because of increased purchasing power
of the cardholder
due to unbilled credit available to the card-holder.
b. Systematic accounting since sales receipts are routed
through
banking channels.
c. Advertising and promotional support on a national scale.
d. Development of a prestigious clientele base.
e. Assured and immediate payment by the banks.
f. Avoid the entire cost and security problem involved in
handling cash.
III . To Banks
a. Scope and potential for better profitability out of share
earned from
the traders turnover.
b. Helps in establishing banking relationship with new
customers.
c. This also provides additional customer service to the
existing clients.
d. Higher popularity and image for the banks.
e. Substantial income through membership fees and by way
of interest
on delayed payments.
5.9.7 Shopping tips:
Keep these tips in mind when looking for a credit or charge
card.
1. Shop around for the plan that best fits your needs.
2. Make sure you understand a plan's terms before you
accept
the card.
3. Hold on to receipts to reconcile charges when your bill
arrives.
4. Protect your cards and account numbers to prevent
unauthorized use.
5. Draw a line through blank spaces on charge slips so the
amount can't be changed. Tear up carbons.
6. Keep a record - in a safe place separate from your cards -
of
your account numbers, expiration dates and the phone
numbers of each issuer to report a loss quickly.
7. Carry only the cards you think you'll use.
5.9.8. Indian Scenario
Indian card-holder basis still relatively small but has high
potential market.
Among the banks issuing card, the esteemed and well
publicized banking
institutions are Citibank Diners Club card, Citibank Visa card
and Credit cards,
Bank of Baroda’s Master care, ANZ Grindlays Credit and Visa
Cards, the SBI’s
credit card, Bank of India’s India card, Taj premium card and
ATM card.
Canara bank’s Cancard, ICICI bank card etc.,
In the days to come credit card will play a very important
role in tourism
development which is not only the biggest foreign exchange
earner, but also
pays a vital role in the improvement of net national income
and employment
generation. The future holds unlimited potential to this card
business. “The
future is smart card technology to support credit cards, debt
cards and the
electronic purse”.
5.9.9. Activities
1. Collect the credit cards brochures issued by different bank
in India and go
through them to know better.
Name of the card issuing institutions Features specified
a. ………………. …………………… …………………..
b. ………………. …………………… …………………..
c. ………………. …………………… …………………..
d. ………………. …………………… …………………..
2. Go to the business houses which accept credit cars and
obtain the information
as to the invoice charging procedure. Keep the following
record.
Step 1 ………………. Step 5……………………
Step 2 …………………. Step 6.…………………..
Step 3 ………………… Step 7 …………………..
Step 4………………… Step 8 ………………….
3. Try to create a credit card of your own for a service of
wide acceptance.
Name of the credit Card:
Features ………………. …………………… …………………..
………………. …………………… …………………..
………………. …………………… …………………..
If possible Design it:
1. Write Short notes on:
a. Credit Card
b. Debit card.
2. Name any five cordite cards you know with examples.
3. What are benefits of credit cards?
4. Explain the future of credit cards in the Indian economy?
5. Explain the features of any five types of credit cards?
5.9.11. Glossary
A credit card is a form of borrowing that often involves
charges. Credit terms
and conditions affect your overall cost. So it's wise to
compare terms and fees
before you agree to open a credit or charge card account.
The following are
some important terms to consider that generally must be
disclosed in credit card
applications or in solicitations that require no application.
Annual Percentage Rate
The APR is a measure of the cost of credit, expressed as a
yearly rate. It also
must be disclosed before you become obligated on the
account and on your
account statements.
Free Period. Also called a "grace period," a free period lets
you avoid finance
charges by paying your balance in full before the due date.
Knowing whether a
card gives you a free period is especially important if you
plan to pay your
account in full each month. Without a free period, the card
issuer may impose a
finance charge from the date you use your card or from the
date each transaction
is posted to your account. If your card includes a free period,
the issuer must
mail your bill at least 14 days before the due date so you'll
have enough time to
pay.
Annual Fees. Most issuers charge annual membership or
participation fees.
They often range from Rs.100 to Rs. 1000 sometimes up to
Rs. 750; "gold" or
"platinum" cards often charge up to Rs.500 and sometimes
up to several hundred
rupees.
Transaction Fees and Other Charges
A card may include other costs. Some issuers charge a fee if
you use the card to
get a cash advance, make a late payment, or exceed your
credit limit. Some
charge a monthly fee whether or not you use the card.
8 MUTUAL FUNDS
5.8.1. Introduction
Mutual Fund is a trust that pools the savings of a number of
investors, which is
invested by the fund manager in different types of securities,
ranging from
shares, debentures, and money market instruments. The
income thus earned
through these investments and the appreciated capital
realized will be shared by
its unit holders in the proportion of their holdings. Thus, it is
the most suitable
investment for the small investors, offering an opportunity to
invest in
diversified and professionally managed portfolio at a
relatively low cost. Any
person with as little as a few thousand rupees can invest in
Mutual Funds, which
has a defined investment objective and strategy.
Today, there are more than 500 Mutual Funds Schemes with
more than Rs
250,000 crores in assets. At times, investors wrongly equate
mutual funds with
“shares” or equity. Mutual Funds have varying degrees of
risks, with varying
degrees of returns which varies according to the type of fund
one invests in.
Since the type of schemes available is different and varying,
one scheme atleast
will suit the requirements of any type of investor at any
stage of life, today.
A draft offer document is to be prepared at the time of
launching the fund. It pre
specifies the investment objectives of the fund, the risk
associated, the costs
involved in the process and the broad rules for entry into and
exit from the fund
and other areas of operation. In India, as in most countries,
these sponsors need
approval from a regulator called SEBI (Securities exchange
Board of India).
5.8.2. Types of Mutual Funds
I.By Structure:
( a )Open-ended Funds
This is available for subscription throughout the year with no
fixed maturity.
Investors can conveniently buy and sell units at Net Asset
Value ("NAV")
related prices. The main feature is its liquidity.
( b )Closed-ended Funds
This has a stipulated maturity period, generally ranging from
3 to 15 year and is
open for subscription only during a specified period, where
the Investors can
invest at the time of the initial public issue and thereafter
they can buy or sell the
units of the scheme on the listed stock exchanges. In order
to provide an exit
route to the investors, some close-ended funds give an
option of selling back the
units to the Mutual Fund through periodic repurchase at NAV
related prices.
SEBI Regulations stipulate that at least one of the two exit
routes must be
provided to the investor.
(c )Interval Funds
They combine the features of open-ended and close-ended
schemes. They
are open for sale or redemption during pre-determined
intervals at NAV
related prices.
ii. By Investment Objective:
( a ) Growth Funds
The aim of growth funds is to provide capital appreciation
over the medium to
long- term by investing a majority of their corpus in equities.
It has been proven
that returns from stocks, have outperformed most other kind
of investments held
over the long term. These schemes are ideal for investors
having a long-term
outlook seeking growth over a period of time.
(b) Income Funds
The aim of such funds are to provide regular and steady
income to investors by
investing in fixed income securities such as bonds, corporate
debentures and
Government securities.
(c ) Balanced Funds
The aim is to provide both growth and regular income by
periodically
distributing a part of their earning and investing both in
equities and fixed
income securities in the proportion indicated in their offer
documents. This is
ideal for investors looking for a combination of income and
moderate growth.
iii. Money Market Funds
The aim is to provide easy liquidity, preservation of capital
and moderate
income by investing in safer short-term instruments such as
treasury bills,
certificates of deposit, commercial paper and inter-bank call
money. These are
ideal for Corporate and individual investors as a means to
park their surplus
funds for short periods where the returns will fluctuate
depending upon the
interest rates prevailing in the market.
( a) Load Funds
Here, one charges a commission for entry or exit ie, when
each time one buys or
sells units in the fund, a commission will be payable. It could
be worth paying
the load, if the fund has a good performance history , where
the loads ranges
from 1% to 2%.
(b) No-Load Funds
No commission is payable on purchase or sale of units in the
fund. The
advantage of this fund is that the entire corpus is put to
work.
Other Schemes:
Tax Saving Schemes
Tax saving schemes offer tax rebates to the investors under
specific provisions
of the Indian Income Tax laws as the Government offers tax
incentives for
investment in specified avenues. Investments made in
Equity Linked Savings
Schemes (ELSS) and Pension Schemes are allowed as
deduction u/s 88 of the
Income Tax Act, 1961.
Special Schemes
Industry Specific Schemes
Industry Specific Schemes invest only in the industries
specified and is limited
to specific industries like InfoTech, FMCG, Pharmaceuticals
etc.
Index Schemes
These Funds attempt to replicate the performance of a
particular index such
as the BSE Sensex or the NSE 50
Sectoral Schemes
Under these schemes funds are invested exclusively in a
specified industry
or a group of industries or various segments such as 'A'
Group shares or
initial public offerings.
5.8.3 Benefits ofMutual Fund investment
1. Professional Management
They provide the services of experienced and skilled
professionals, backed
by a dedicated investment research team that analyses the
performance and
prospects of companies and selects suitable investments to
achieve the
objectives of the scheme.
2. Diversification
They invest in a number of companies across a broad cross-
section of industries
and sectors, where diversification reduces the risk because
seldom do all stocks
decline at the same time and in the same proportion. One
achieves this
diversification through a Mutual Fund with far less money
than one can do on
their own.
3. Convenient Administration
It reduces paperwork and helps you avoid many problems
such as bad
deliveries, delayed payments and follow up with brokers and
companies and at
the same time saves one’s time and make investing easy
and convenient.
4. Return Potential
They have the potential to provide a higher return as they
invest in a diversified
basket of selected securities over a medium to long-term.
5. Low Costs
They are a relatively less expensive way to invest compared
to directly investing
in the capital markets because the benefits of scale in
brokerage, custodial and
other fees translate into lower costs for investors.
6.Liquidity
In open-end schemes, the investor gets the money back
promptly at net asset
value related prices from the Mutual Fund. In closed-end
schemes, the units can
be sold on a stock exchange at the prevailing market price
or the investor can
avail of the facility of direct repurchase at NAV related prices
by the Mutual
Fund.
7. Transparency
Regular information on the value of the investments in
addition to disclosure on
the specific investments made by the scheme, the
proportion invested in each
class of assets and the fund manager's investment strategy
and outlook are
published periodically.
8.Flexibility
One can systematically invest or withdraw funds according
to one’s needs and
convenience through regular investment plans, regular
withdrawal plans and
dividend reinvestment plans.
9. Affordability
A mutual fund because of its large corpus allows even a
small investor to take
the benefit of its investment strategy where the small
Investors individually may
lack sufficient funds to invest in high-grade stocks.
10.Choice of Schemes
Mutual Funds offer a family of schemes to suit one’s varying
needs over a
lifetime.
11. Well Regulated
All Mutual Funds are registered with SEBI and they function
within the
provisions of strict regulations designed to protect the
interests of investors, the
operations of which are regularly monitored by SEBI.
5.8.4. Mutual Funds in India (1964-2005)
41 years of existence of mutual funds in this country ride
through these rough
weather and the investor opinion is still divided.
The impetus for establishing a formal institution came from
the desire to
increase the propensity of the middle and lower groups to
save and to invest.
UTI came into existence during a period marked by great
political and economic
uncertainty in India. With war on the borders and economic
turmoil that
depressed the financial market, entrepreneurs were hesitant
to enter capital
market.
The already existing companies found it difficult to raise
fresh capital, as
investors did not respond adequately to new issues. Earnest
efforts were required
to canalize savings of the community into productive uses in
order to speed up
the process of industrial growth.
The then Finance Minister, T.T. Krishnamachari set up the
idea of a unit trust
that would be "open to any person or institution to purchase
the units offered by
the trust. However, this institution as we see it, is intended
to cater to the needs
of individual investors, and even among them as far as
possible, to those whose
means are small."
His ideas took the form of the Unit Trust of India, an
intermediary that would
help fulfill the twin objectives of mobilizing retail savings and
investing those
savings in the capital market and passing on the benefits so
accrued to the small
investors.
UTI commenced its operations from July 1964. With a view to
encouraging
savings and investment and participation in the income,
profits and gains
accruing to the Corporation from the acquisition, holding,
management and
disposal of securities. Different provisions of the UTI Act laid
down the
structure of management, scope of business, powers and
functions of the Trust
as well as accounting, disclosures and regulatory
requirements for the Trust.
One thing is certain – the fund industry is here to stay. The
industry was
one-entity show till 1986 when the UTI monopoly was broken
when SBI and
Canbank mutual fund entered the arena. This was followed
by the entry of
others like BOI, LIC, GIC, etc. sponsored by public sector
banks. Starting
with an asset base of Rs0.25bn in 1964 the industry has
grown at a
compounded average growth rate of 26.34%to its current
size of Rs1130bn.
The period 1986-1993 can be termed as the period of public
sector mutual funds
(PMFs). From one player in 1985 the number increased to 8
in 1993. The party
did not last long. When the private sector made its debut in
1993-94, the stock
market was booming.
The opening up of the asset management business to
private sector in 1993 saw
international players like Morgan Stanley, Jardine Fleming, JP
Morgan, George
Soros and Capital International along with the host of
domestic players join the
party. But for the equity funds, the period of 1994-96 was
one of the worst in the
history of Indian Mutual Funds.
5.8.5. Market Trends
A lone UTI with just one scheme in 1964, now competes with
as many as 400
odd products and 34 players in the market. In spite of the
stiff competition and
losing market share, UTI still remains a formidable force to
reckon with.
Last six years have been the most turbulent as well as
exiting ones for the
industry. New players have come in, while others have
decided to close shop by
either selling off or merging with others. Product innovation
is now passé with
the game shifting to performance delivery in fund
management as well as
service. Those directly associated with the fund
management industry like
distributors, registrars and transfer agents, and even the
regulators have become
more mature and responsible.
The industry is also having a profound impact on financial
markets. While UTI
has always been a dominant player on the bourses as well as
the debt markets,
the new generation of private funds which have gained
substantial mass are now
seen flexing their muscles. Fund managers, by their
selection criteria for stocks
have forced corporate governance on the industry. By
rewarding honest and
transparent management with higher valuations, a system of
risk-reward has
been created where the corporate sector is more transparent
then before.
Funds have shifted their focus to the recession free sectors
like pharmaceuticals,
FMCG and technology sector. Funds performances are
improving. Funds
collection, which averaged at less than Rs100bn per annum
over five-year
period spanning 1993-98 doubled to Rs210bn in 1998-99. In
the current year
mobilization till now have exceeded Rs300bn. Total
collection for the current
financial year ending March 2000 is expected to reach
Rs450bn.
What is particularly noteworthy is that bulk of the
mobilization has been by the
private sector mutual funds rather than public sector mutual
funds. Indeed
private MFs saw a net inflow of Rs. 7819.34 crore during the
first nine months
of the year as against a net inflow of Rs.604.40 crore in the
case of public sector
funds.
Mutual funds are now also competing with commercial banks
in the race for
retail investor’s savings and corporate float money. The
power shift towards
mutual funds has become obvious. The coming few years
will show that the
traditional saving avenues are losing out in the current
scenario. Many investors
are realizing that investments in savings accounts are as
good as locking up their
deposits in a closet. The fund mobilization trend by mutual
funds in the current
year indicates that money is going to mutual funds in a big
way. The collection
in the first half of the financial year 1999-2000 matches the
whole of 1998-99.
India is at the first stage of a revolution that has already
peaked in the U.S. The
U.S. boasts of an Asset base that is much higher than its
bank deposits. In India,
mutual fund assets are not even 10% of the bank deposits,
but this trend is
beginning to change. Recent figures indicate that in the first
quarter of the
current fiscal year mutual fund assets went up by 115%
whereas bank deposits
rose by only 17%. (Source: Thinktank, The Financial Express
September, 99)
This is forcing a large number of banks to adopt the concept
of narrow banking
wherein the deposits are kept in Gilts and some other assets
which improves
liquidity and reduces risk. The basic fact lies that banks
cannot be ignored and
they will not close down completely. Their role as
intermediaries cannot be
ignored. It is just that Mutual Funds are going to change the
way banks do
business in the future.
Banks v/s Mutual Funds
Comparable criteria BANKS MUTUAL FUNDS
Returns Low Better
Administrative exp. High Low
Risk Low Moderate
Investment options Less More
Network High penetration Low but improving
Liquidity At a cost Better
Quality of assets Not transparent Transparent
Interest calculation
Minimum balance
between 10th. & 30th. Of
every month
Everyday
Guarantee
Maximum Rs.1 lakh on
deposits
None
Global Scenario
Some basic facts
The money market mutual fund segment has a total corpus
of $ 1.48
trillion in the U.S. against a corpus of $ 100 million in India.
Out of the top 10 mutual funds worldwide, eight are bank-
sponsored.
Only Fidelity and Capital are non-bank mutual funds in this
group.
In the U.S. the total number of schemes is higher than that
of the listed
companies while in India we have just 277 schemes
Internationally, mutual funds are allowed to go short. In
India fund
managers do not have such leeway.
In the U.S. about 9.7 million households will manage their
assets on-line
by the year 2003, such a facility is not yet of avail in India.
On- line trading is a great idea to reduce management
expenses from the
current 2 % of total assets to about 0.75 % of the total
assets.
72% of the core customer base of mutual funds in the top
50-broking
firms in the U.S. are expected to trade on-line by 2003.
Internationally, online investing continues its meteoric rise.
Many have
debated about the success of e- commerce and its
breakthroughs, but it is true
that this aspect of technology could and will change the way
financial sectors
function. However, mutual funds cannot be left far behind.
They have realized
the potential of the Internet and are equipping themselves to
perform better.
Such increases in volumes are expected to bring about large
changes in the way
Mutual Funds conduct their business.
Here are some of the basic changes that have taken place
since the advent of the
Net.
Lower Costs: Distribution of funds will fall in the online
trading regime
by 2003 . Mutual funds could bring down their administrative
costs to 0.75% if
trading is done online. As per SEBI regulations , bond funds
can charge a
maximum of 2.25% and equity funds can charge 2.5% as
administrative fees.
Therefore if the administrative costs are low , the benefits
are passed down and
hence Mutual Funds are able to attract mire investors and
increase their asset
base.
Better advice: Mutual funds could provide better advice to
their investors
through the Net rather than through the traditional
investment routes where there
is an additional channel to deal with the Brokers. Direct
dealing with the fund
could help the investor with their financial planning.
In India , brokers could get more Net savvy than investors
and could help
the investors with the knowledge through get from the Net.
New investors would prefer online : Mutual funds can target
investors
who are young individuals and who are Net savvy, since
servicing them would
be easier on the Net.
India has around 1.6 million net users who are prime target
for these
funds and this could just be the beginning. The Internet
users are going to
increase dramatically and mutual funds are going to be the
best beneficiary.
With smaller administrative costs more funds would be
mobilized .A fund
manager must be ready to tackle the volatility and will have
to maintain
sufficient amount of investments which are high liquidity and
low yielding
investments to honor redemption.
Net based advertisements: There will be more sites
involved in ads and
promotion of mutual funds. In the U.S. sites like AOL offer
detailed research
and financial details about the functioning of different funds
and their
performance statistics. a is witnessing a genesis in this area .
There are many
sites such as indiainfoline.com and indiafn.com that are
doing something similar
and providing advice to investors regarding their
investments.
In the U.S. most mutual funds concentrate only on financial
funds like equity
and debt. Some like real estate funds and commodity funds
also take an
exposure to physical assets. The latter type of funds are
preferred by corporate’s
who want to hedge their exposure to the commodities they
deal with.
For instance, a cable manufacturer who needs 100 tons of
Copper in the month
of January could buy an equivalent amount of copper by
investing in a copper
fund. For Example, Permanent Portfolio Fund, a conservative
U.S. based fund
invests a fixed percentage of it’s corpus in Gold, Silver, Swiss
francs, specific
stocks on various bourses around the world, short –term and
long-term U.S.
treasuries etc.
In U.S.A. apart from bullion funds there are copper funds,
precious metal funds
and real estate funds (investing in real estate and other
related assets as well.).In
India, the Canada based Dundee mutual fund is planning to
launch a gold and a
real estate fund before the year-end.
In developed countries like the U.S.A there are funds to
satisfy everybody’s
requirement, but in India only the tip of the iceberg has been
explored. In the
near future India too will concentrate on financial as well as
physical funds.
5.8.6. Regulatory Aspects
Schemes of a Mutual Fund
The asset management company shall launch no scheme
unless the trustees
approve such scheme and a copy of the offer document has
been filed with the
Board.
Every mutual fund shall along with the offer document of
each scheme pay
filing fees.
The offer document shall contain disclosures which are
adequate in order to
enable the investors to make informed investment decision
including the
disclosure on maximum investments proposed to be made
by the scheme in the
listed securities of the group companies of the sponsor A
close-ended scheme
shall be fully redeemed at the end of the maturity period.
"Unless a majority of
the unit holders otherwise decide for its rollover by passing a
resolution".
The mutual fund and asset management company shall be
liable to refund the
application money to the applicants,-
(i) If the mutual fund fails to receive the minimum
subscription amount referred
to in clause (a) of sub-regulation(1).
(ii) If the moneys received from the applicants for units are
in excess of
subscription as referred to in clause (b) of sub-regulation (1).
The asset management company shall issue to the applicant
whose application
has been accepted, unit certificates or a statement of
accounts specifying the
number of units allotted to the applicant as soon as possible
but not later than six
weeks from the date of closure of the initial subscription list
and or from the
date of receipt of the request from the unit holders in any
open ended scheme.
Rules Regarding Advertisement:
The offer document and advertisement materials shall not
be misleading or
contain any statement or opinion, which are incorrect or
false.
Investment Objectives And Valuation Policies:
The price at which the units may be subscribed or sold and
the price at which
such units may at any time be repurchased by the mutual
fund shall be made
available to the investors.
General Obligations:
Every asset management company for each scheme shall
keep and maintain
proper books of accounts, records and documents, for each
scheme so as to
explain its transactions and to disclose at any point of time
the financial position
of each scheme and in particular give a true and fair view of
the state of affairs
of the fund and intimate to the Board the place where such
books of accounts,
records and documents are maintained.
The financial year for all the schemes shall end as of March
31 of each year.
Every mutual fund or the asset management company shall
prepare in respect of
each financial year an annual report and annual statement
of accounts of the
schemes and the fund as specified in Eleventh Schedule.
Every mutual fund shall have the annual statement of
accounts audited by an
auditor who is not in any way associated with the auditor of
the asset
management company.
Procedure For Action In Case Of Default:
On and from the date of the suspension of the certificate or
the approval, as the
case may be, the mutual fund, trustees or asset
management company, shall
cease to carry on any activity as a mutual fund, trustee or
asset management
company, during the period of suspension, and shall be
subject to the directions
of the Board with regard to any records, documents, or
securities that may be in
its custody or control, relating to its activities as mutual
fund, trustees or asset
management company.
Restrictions on Investments:
A mutual fund scheme shall not invest more than 15% of its
NAV in debt
instruments issued by a single issuer, which are rated not
below investment
grade by a credit rating agency authorized to carry out such
activity under the
Act. Such investment limit may be extended to 20% of the
NAV of the scheme
with the prior approval of the Board of Trustees and the
Board of asset
management company.
A mutual fund scheme shall not invest more than 10% of its
NAV in uncrated
debt instruments issued by a single issuer and the total
investment in such
instruments shall not exceed 25% of the NAV of the scheme.
All such
investments shall be made with the prior approval of the
Board of Trustees and
the Board of asset management company.
No mutual fund under all its schemes should own more than
ten per cent of any
company's paid up capital carrying voting rights.
Such transfers are done at the prevailing market price for
quoted
instruments on spot basis. The securities so transferred shall
be in conformity
with the investment objective of the scheme to which such
transfer has been
made.
A scheme may invest in another scheme under the same
asset management
company or any other mutual fund without charging any
fees, provided that
aggregate inter scheme investment made by all schemes
under the same
management or in schemes under the management of any
other asset
management company shall not exceed 5% of the net asset
value of the mutual
fund.
The initial issue expenses in respect of any scheme may not
exceed six per cent
of the funds raised under that scheme.
Every mutual fund shall buy and sell securities on the basis
of deliveries and
shall in all cases of purchases, take delivery of relative
securities and in all cases
of sale, deliver the securities and shall in no case put itself in
a position whereby
it has to make short sale or carry forward transaction or
engage in badla finance.
Every mutual fund shall, get the securities purchased or
transferred in the name
of the mutual fund on account of the concerned scheme,
wherever investments
are intended to be of long-term nature.
Pending deployment of funds of a scheme in securities in
terms of investment
objectives of the scheme a mutual fund can invest the funds
of the scheme in
short term deposits of scheduled commercial banks.
5.8.7. Limitations ofMutual Funds:
Entry and exit costs: Mutual funds are a victim of their own
success. When a
large body like a fund invests in shares, the concentrated
buying or selling often
results in adverse price movements ie at the time of buying,
the fund ends up
paying a higher price and while selling it realizes a lower
price. This problem is
especially severe in emerging markets like India, where,
excluding a few stocks,
even the stocks in the Sensex are not liquid, let alone stocks
in the NSE 50 or the
CRISIL 500. So, there is simply no way that a fund can beat
the Sensex or any
other index, if it blindly invests in the same stocks as those
in the Sensex and in
the same proportion. For obvious reasons, this problem is
even more severe for
funds investing in small capitalization stocks. However, given
the large size of
the debt market, excluding UTI, most debt funds do not face
this problem
Wait time before investment: It takes time for a mutual fund
to invest money.
Unfortunately, most mutual funds receive money when
markets are in a boom
phase and investors are willing to try out mutual funds.
Since it is difficult to
invest all funds in one day, there is some money waiting to
be invested. Further,
there may be a time lag before investment opportunities are
identified. This
ensures that the fund under performs the index. For open-
ended funds, there is
the added problem of perpetually keeping some money in
liquid assets to meet
redemptions. The problem of impracticability of quick
investments is likely to
be reduced to some extent with the introduction of index
futures.
Fund management costs: The costs of the fund management
process are
deducted from the fund. This includes marketing and initial
costs deducted at the
time of entry itself, called "load". Then there is the annual
asset management fee
and expenses, together called the expense ratio. Usually,
the former is not
counted while measuring performance, while the latter is. A
standard 2%
expense ratio means that, everything else being equal, the
fund manager under
performs the benchmark index by an equal amount.
Cost of churn: The portfolio of a fund does not remain
constant. The extent to
which the portfolio changes is a function of the style of the
individual fund
manager ie whether he is a buy and hold type of manager or
one who
aggressively churns the fund. It is also dependent on the
volatility of the fund
size i.e whether the fund constantly receives fresh
subscriptions and
redemptions. Such portfolio changes have associated costs
of brokerage, custody
fees, registration fees etc. which lowers the portfolio return
commensurately.
Change of index composition: World over, the indices keep
changing to reflect
changing market conditions. There is an inherent
survivorship bias in this
process, with the bad stocks weeded out and replaced by
emerging blue chips.
This is a severe problem in India with the Sensex having
been changed twice in
the last 5 years, with each change being quite substantial.
Another reason for
change index composition is Mergers & Acquisitions. The
weight age of the
shares of a particular company in the index changes if it
acquires a large
company not a part of the index.
Tendency to take conformist decisions: From the above
points, it is quite clear
that the only way a fund can beat the index is through
investment of some part
of its portfolio in some shares where it gets excellent
returns, much more than
the index. This will pull up the overall average return. In
order to obtain such
exceptional returns, the fund manager has to take a strong
view and invest in
some uncommon or unfancied investment options. Most
people are unwilling to
do that. They follow the principle "No fund manager ever got
fired for investing
in Hindustan Lever" ie if something goes wrong with an
unusual investment, the
fund manager will be questioned but if anything goes wrong
with the blue chip,
then you can always blame it on the "environment" or
"uncontrollable factors"
knowing fully well that there are many other fund managers
who have made the
same decision. Unfortunately, if the fund manager does the
same thing as
several others of his class, chances are that he will produce
average results. This
does not mean that if a fund manager takes "active" views
and invests in heavily
researched "uncommon" ideas, the fund will necessarily
outperform the index. If
the idea does not work, it will result in poor fund
performance. But if no such
view is taken, there is absolutely no chance that the fund will
outperform the
index.
5.8.8. Activities
1. Go though any business or stock marked to name of
mutual Funds for atleast
two names of mutual funds foe each type.
Type of Mutual Fund Indian Examples.
1. ……………………………… ………………………………
2. ……………………………… ………………………………
3. ……………………………… ………………………………
4. ……………………………… ………………………………
5. ……………………………… ………………………………
2. Fix an appointment with the mutual funds dealer and
observe the features and
merits of popular manual funds.
Name of Mutual Fund Features Merits
1. …………………… ………………… …………………..
2. …………………… ………………… …………………..
3. …………………… ………………… …………………..
4. …………………… ………………… …………………..
5. …………………… ………………… …………………..
3. Meet your friends, who invested is mutual funds, and
obtain from them the
merits of the schemes in which they invested.
Name of Mutual Funds Merits
1. …………………………. …………………………….
2. …………………………. …………………………….
3. …………………………. …………………………….
4. …………………………. …………………………….
1. Define Mutual Fund? Explain its general features?
2. Write Sort notes on :
a. Net Asset value.
b. Open – ended scheme
c. Close-ended scheme.
3. Why mutual funds failed in the market? Bring out its
repercussions.
5.11. FURTHER READINGS
Khan, M.Y. “Financial Servicies” – Tata MeGraw Hill
Publishing Company
Limited .
Ferrell , O.C. and Others, “Marketing Strategy Vikas
Publishing House.
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MBA-Finance Management of Financial Services

MEANING OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

The term Financial services in its broader sense refers to “

CLASSIFICATAION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

EVOLUTION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES IN INDIA:

Financial services sector is blooming in India and it has

i) Initial phase (1960-80)

ii) Second phase:

iii) Third phase:

ii) Emergence of Primary Equity Market:

iii) Concept of Credit Rating:

iv) Process of Globalization:

FUNCTIONS OF FINANCIAL SERVICE INSTITUTIONS:

B) They assist in deciding the financing mix

C) They extend their service up to the stage of servicing of

D) They provide services like bill discounting, factoring of

E) These firms provide some specialized services like credit

CONSTITUENTS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES:

It includes equity, debt and hybrid. These instruments are

The players in the market include:

ii. Financing companies:

iii. Stock Brokers:

vi. Market makers:

CLASSIFICATION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

KINDS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES:

The term leasing refers to a contract under which the owner

Steps involved in Leasing:

a) At the first instance the lessee has to take a decision

b) The lessee then enters into a lease agreement with lessor.

c) After the lease agreement is signed the lessor consents

Services of merchant banks:

The pre-issue management involves the following:

Post issue management includes the following:

A merchant banker acts as a liasoning officer at the event of

The services of Merchant bankers also include investment

ORGANISATION OF MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES IN

The organization of mutual funds involves five constituents

CLASSIFICATION OF MUTUAL FUNDS:

A Mutual fund scheme can be classified into open-ended or

FUNCTIONS OF MUTUAL FUNDS:

 enables small investors to hold a share in a large and

 helps the small investors who do not have adequate time

OBJECTIVES OF CREDIT RATING:

 imposes a financial discipline on the borrowers

 helps the financial intermediary in discharging the

 guides the investor regarding the commitment towards a

 facilitates the formulation of the public guidelines on the

 may provide adequate funds for the high rated

 lends greater credibility to the financial and other

 encourages transparency of information and better

CREDIT RATING PROCESS:

B) On the basis of client needs, rating agency appoints a

C) The experts team makes report to the agency appoints a

D) Credit rating agency submits, its observations about the

CREDIT RATING AGENCIES IN INDIA:

i) Credit Rating and Information services of India (CRISIL)

ii) Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India

iii) Credit Analysis and Research Limited (CARE)

iv) Onida Individual Credit Rating Agency of India Limited.

Features of venture capital:

i. Venture capital is usually will be in the form of equity

ii. The investment is made only in high tech projects

v. This type of investment is generally made in small and

vi. Venture capital is available only for commercialization of